By Judith A. Verduzco, LCSW — Therapist and Founder of Monarchs Therapy Published July 2025
Why Monarchs Matter to Me
For me, the monarch butterfly isn’t just a logo — it’s part of my story growing up.
As a young child, I would often spend summers in Michoacán, Mexico with my tía and my mamá Carmelita (also known as my grandmother). I remember sipping Coca-Cola out of a plastic bag with a straw, listening in awe as my tía told me (full of pride) about the butterfly migration — how every year, millions of monarchs traveled thousands of miles to rest in the forests of our home state of Michoacán. She described branches so heavy with butterflies that the trees looked alive.
Even at such a young age, I remember wondering: How that could even be possible?
Michoacán is known worldwide for these breathtaking butterfly sanctuaries, but it’s also a land rich with culture — from its artisanal crafts (like hand-painted pottery and textiles) to its traditional cuisine (hello, carnitas and my favorite uchepos), its towering volcanoes and rich minerals, and the vibrant traditions around Lake Pátzcuaro and the Danza de los Viejitos. And of course, it’s home to Mexico’s “green gold”: avocados.
In Mexican culture, monarchs are also deeply tied to Día de los Muertos — they are believed to carry the spirits of loved ones returning home. To me, the monarch butterfly is more than a symbol of beauty; it’s a reminder of ancestry, resilience, transformation, and connection.
Why I Named My Practice Monarchs Therapy
When it came time to name my practice, Monarchs Therapy felt like the right and only choice.
🌎 Culturally, it’s home. Naming my practice after the monarch honors my family, my heritage, and Michoacán — the place that first taught me to see butterflies as something sacred and beautiful.
🦋 Symbolically, it’s healing. The butterfly’s transformation mirrors the therapy process. Change is messy, sometimes painful, but always worth it.
💚 Personally, it’s a reminder. Monarchs are endangered yet resilient. I’ve even planted milkweed in my own yard (confession: I killed my first plant, but the second one took!). Caring for them reminds me that healing, like gardening, takes patience and care.
5 Lessons From the Monarch Butterfly
Lesson What It Means for Healing
| Lesson | What It Means for Healing |
| 1. Growth requires letting go. | Caterpillars don’t carry their old selves into the chrysalis. Healing often means releasing what no longer serves us. |
| 2. Change takes time (and patience). | Butterflies don’t rush their transformation. Therapy is slow, nonlinear, and sometimes messy — and that’s okay. |
| 3. Community matters. | Monarchs migrate together across thousands of miles. We weren’t meant to heal alone. Connection makes the journey possible. |
| 4. . Resilience is in our DNA. | Despite their fragility, monarchs cross continents. We carry that same resilience, even when trauma makes us forget. |
| 5. Beauty can come from struggle. | The butterfly’s most breathtaking stage comes after its hardest transition. Our challenges can shape us into something even stronger and more beautiful. |
A Personal Reflection
Every time I see a monarch butterfly now, it feels like a little nudge from the universe: Keep going. Transformation is possible.
That’s the spirit behind Monarchs Therapy. It’s not just about reducing symptoms — it’s about creating space for transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating trauma, anxiety, or grief, therapy can offer a path toward healing and growth.
✨ Key Takeaway: Just like the monarch, you deserve the time, space, and care to grow into the fullest version of yourself. Healing isn’t about perfection — it’s about transformation.
Closing the Circle
All those years ago, sitting in Michoacán with a soda in my hand and my tía’s stories in my ears, I couldn’t have known that butterflies would one day become the heart of my life’s work. Now, Monarchs Therapy is my way of carrying that story forward — and walking alongside others as they write their own.
“Every time I see a monarch, I’m reminded that healing is possible, even if the journey takes time.”