Therapists in 49503

Melissa has experience working with adults, college age students, and adolescents. Clinical issues that she has the most experience with includes personality disorders, depression, trauma, grief, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem issues, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, and stress management. A main focus of treatment is to establish a therapeutic alliance with the client. Melissa believes that having a good connection helps facilitate effective counseling and provides the best outcomes. In therapy, she is supportive, compassionate, and present with individuals both in times of struggle as well as times of achievement.

We live in a world of constant change. My goal as a therapist is to help you prepare for, embrace, and navigate change in its many forms. Whether you’re graduating from high school, dealing with work stress, preparing for marriage, or navigating conflict in relationships, I can help! As an immigrant, my lived experience is an important part of my approach to therapy. I love working with diverse populations because, like you, I have experienced the ups and downs of life. I understand the frustration of being misunderstood, the pain of being othered, and the realities of “being different.”

I am passionate about the work that I do. I have been supporting, advocating and facilitating change with Individuals, Children and Families for over 23 years. I am a Bilingual, Spanish Speaking therapist, who believes in the strength and immense value of diversity and healthy communities. My ideal client is someone who is seeking change and willing to explore the path to get there.

Counseling is a collaborative effort between therapist and client where we work together to help you reach your goals for emotional healing and psychological well-being. I believe that you have inside of you, what you need to heal, but during times of stress and pain, it's difficult to find. That's why therapy can be so beneficial - it can help you uncover your strengths again, or even perhaps help you see them for the first time, in an environment of complete support and acceptance.

If you want help making your life more manageable or finding a way out of the chaos, you have come to the right place. If you feel like you are struggling to reconcile experiences or find coping skills to manage mental health concerns, relationship issues, and/or addictions, you have also come to the right place. We will work together to identify the source of your discomfort and unmanageability and then identify tools to move forward. Once we have identified the problem, we can work towards a solution. I am very solution focused in my approach and enjoy working with individuals who are ready to make sustainable change.

Practicing since 2005, I work with children and teens, families and individuals and specialize in trauma, attachment, behavioral issues, children's mental health, relationship issues and transitions with the family life cycle. I assess clients and their presenting concerns with a welcoming, non-judgmental , solution-focused approach. My client-centered manner empowers the individual to realize strengths and assets available to them and how to compensate for and overcome identified barriers.

My work primarily focuses on adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 40 with concerns related to anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, trauma, and grief and loss. My therapeutic approach focuses on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with a solution-focused mindset.

Navigating through life can be a rollercoaster ride, with no blueprint telling us what to do. Like a rollercoaster ride, life comes with many ups and downs, and curves in between. At times we may feel stuck or have exhausted all of our options, these thoughts are normal. My goal in counseling is to help you get unstuck and get you back on the ride we call life.

The decision to start therapy can be overwhelming & anxiety provoking. You may be wondering how therapy can help or who the right therapist is. You're not alone! My hope is to help you feel comfortable & confident in your decision to be here. I have over eight years of clinical experience working with depression, anxiety, life transitions, mood disorders, family &/or relational conflict, grief, complex medical diagnoses, & trauma. I strive to create an environment in which we identify where change is needed while highlighting the strengths you already possess. I value building trust, fostering connection, & embracing vulnerability.

The vulnerability required of therapy can be overwhelming. As someone who has personally experienced not only the benefits of therapy, but the support & compassion of a therapist, I can safely say working with someone who sees you as an individual can truly do wonders. When clients seek my therapeutic services, I don’t view them as having “problems.” I recognize them as individuals, stuck in patterns of behaviors no longer helpful. As an upbeat & energetic person, I provide a safe, open, & validating environment to facilitate change.

Do you feel like you're stuck in a pattern that no longer serves you? If you are experiencing struggles within your relationships, work, or school we may be a good match. My approach is holistic, strength based, and solution focused. We will bring all factors into focus to help you with creating your best pathway forward while creating space for you to explore who you are and what you want. I enjoy working with college students, teens, couples, and adults.

You deserve to have a safe space to engage in exploration and healing. Life can be an overwhelming experience, especially for those of us that hold marginalized identities. Therapy is a collaborative process, and through this collaborative process we can both explore what healing may look like for you. I enjoy an eclectic and holistic style of healing, emphasizing a client-centered approach for selecting treatment styles. Black femmes, POC, and LGBTQIA2SP+ folx are prioritized. I look forward to collaborating with you.

Life is not always easy, but if you are willing to invest in yourself, your mental wellbeing, or even spiritual growth, the transformation you’ll see will be well worth the healthier you.

My therapeutic intervention is looking at the past as necessary in making changes for the future. I'm certain that any unwanted behavior can be unlocked by recognizing the purpose or wanted outcome for said behavior and my passion is helping you identify that unmet need and make healthy changes. I enjoy working with clients that are willing to do things outside of the therapeutic office setting such as writing, art, and/or practicing skills learned, and then reporting back in session the helpfulness of each strategy.

I believe in a Strength-Based approach to therapy. My belief is to start with what is working (even if it is just a little bit) and build from there. I encourage the client to have an active voice in the treatment process and to be involved in their clinical goal setting. I find that CBT and somatic techniques are helpful with many clients and utilize a variety of skills and activities to help clients learn and use these techniques in their daily life.

I know life is messy and complex. Our paths are filled with challenging experiences, unexpected thoughts, and raw emotions. You may find you have parts of yourself feeling disconnected, unrecognizable, or not meeting expectations you have held. You may be noticing shifts in your identity, your relationships, or the roles you play. I am here to walk alongside you as you begin this journey of discovery and healing.

Life has many challenges that we struggle with, many coming internally from our own minds. I can help navigate you through your journey to overcome intrusive, negative self-talk, low self-esteem and self-worth, trauma, and to assist with changing that inner voice that tells you, “you have to be perfect.” Using art therapy as well as CBT techniques, I work with students and professionals who are struggling with identity, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. Together we can work together to gain insight, develop coping skills and mindfulness techniques, defeat the negative self-talk, and create a life worth living.

I believe that through a safe and judgment-free therapeutic relationship true growth, empowerment, and healing can occur in any individual's life. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have an extensive range of clinical experience providing mental health services for depression, anxiety, anger, trauma, grief, family and relationship issues, career exploration, and the LGBT population. All are welcome here. I see clients starting at age 13 through adult and welcome you to take a step towards a better quality of life and self care by contacting me to set up an appointment.

If you are struggling with issues with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, suicidal ideation, PTSD, or OCD I am able to guide you to a better place. I work with individuals, families, and couples. My therapeutic style is eclectic, which means I strive to fit your needs and your lifestyle. I also have over 20 years experience working with families that struggle with parenting skills and children with defiance issues.