Harold "Lanny" Monson

Harold "Lanny" Monson is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 25 years of practice. He helps people who feel stuck, powerless, or overwhelmed by relationships, trauma, substance struggles, or life transitions. He often works with issues around self-esteem, anger, anxiety, grief, and addiction. He also supports people navigating identity and intimacy-related concerns.

He uses clear, practical conversations to help people find small shifts that make life more manageable. He developed a way of thinking he calls "Displaced Power" and focuses on helping people move toward what he calls "the power within." Clients can expect straightforward discussion about what motivates behavior and what changes might work.

Monson has worked in a number of community and institutional settings, including military family advocacy, correctional facilities, and programs for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Those experiences shaped his interest in helping people who feel marginalized or unheard. He has also done outreach with underserved populations and those facing homelessness.

Educationally he holds a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University, a Master of Science in Family and Human Development from Utah State University, and a post-master's certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is an LMFT in Utah and Washington and has served as an approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

In sessions he blends client-centered listening with practical methods from cognitive behavioral and mindfulness approaches. He draws on relationship-focused techniques such as the Gottman Method when relevant. The result is a direct, compassionate approach aimed at helping people regain confidence and clearer choices.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-centered therapy starts by listening closely to each person's experience and priorities and helps shape goals based on what matters to them. It helps with feeling heard, rebuilding confidence, and deciding which changes to try.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems in place and testing small changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety, anger, or depression. It is practical and often used for mood, stress, and coping with life changes.

The Gottman Method brings specific skills for improving communication and resolving recurring conflicts in relationships. It is useful for people who want tools to reduce reactive fights and rebuild trust and connection.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each client to match methods to goals and preferences. This means trying things, checking what helps, and adjusting plans together so the approach fits the person's needs.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing more flexible scheduling. It can also allow shorter check-ins when a quick conversation is needed, or accommodate sessions without video when bandwidth is limited. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking to make sure they match your needs.