Melissa has been working as a mental health professional since the early 2000’s. Along the way, she’s learned the importance of making people feel safe, heard, and understood. With Melissa, you can expect to feel at ease with her approachable, relatable, and down-to-earth attitude. She has an innate understanding of the pain life can cause and how chronic pain can sometimes cause you to suffer enough to struggle to function. There is no judgment when you walk through her door.
Nonetheless, Melissa is honest and direct, and you can expect to receive authentic feedback. Her goal is always to help you uncover truths about yourself so that you can be the realest version of who you are. You can expect to learn new ideas and methods of coping that can help you better navigate your stressors in life. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and issues related to childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on how we think and deal with stress and Melissa’s goal is to better help you understand the limitations you may be placing on yourself – allowing you to become a healthier and more functional individual. And don’t be surprised if she cracks a joke too – she often uses humor to make her clients feel more relaxed and at ease – especially since therapy can often be focused on heavy stuff!
Melissa says, “there is nothing more beautiful or empowering than to see an individual open their mind to fully loving themselves with compassion and eyes wide open to all of their strengths AND weaknesses.” She looks forward to you reaching out to schedule a session and begin your journey with her as your biggest cheerleader.
Education/Credentials:
Florida International University, Master of Science, Psychology
Florida Institute of Technology, Applied Behavior Analysis Certification
Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor, #MH13464
Qualified Supervisor for Registered Interns
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, #0-21-12444
Experienced in:
Anxiety, Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, Coaching, Coping with Life Changes, Depression, Parenting issues, Trauma, Self-esteem, Co-Dependency, Domestic Violence, Family Problems, Coping Skills, Infidelity, Self-Love, Women’s Issues, Young Adult Issues, PTSD, Self-Harming, Stress, Suicidal Ideation, Marital Issues
Clinical approaches:
Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gottman Techniques, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Applied Behavior Analysis, Coaching, Clinical Supervision for Licensees
Years of Experience: Since 2005