Areas of Focus: Acceptance/Committment Therapy, ADHD, Anxiety, Cognitive Behavior, Therapy (CBT), Depression, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Gender Identity, Grief, LGBTQ+ issues, Medical/Health Related Conditions, Parenting, PTSD/Trauma
Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a focus on Counseling, a Master of Science in Psychology with a focus on Child Development from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Melissa’s work experience includes working with children and families to address mental health and safety needs for increased stabilization, in addition to working with adults to build independent living skills and mental health symptom management. Melissa has also worked in a residential facility for youth with higher level safety and mental health needs. Melissa has over ten years of experience in the mental health field working with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages with various needs across the life spectrum.
Melissa is passionate about working with people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and identities with special attention to LGBTQIA+ needs, minority issues, spiritual inclusion in counseling, and alternative therapies such as play, animal assisted therapy, music, and art techniques. Melissa addresses each individual based on their needs and strengths with their full participation in the development of a treatment approach and determining what progress looks like for them. Melissa prides herself in using different modalities and techniques such as person-centered approaches, positive psychology techniques, strengths-based treatment, ACT, reality therapy, DBT, play techniques, and unconditional positive regard. Melissa works to be flexible and open minded to whatever her client’s needs may be and will work as a team to make services as comfortable as possible.
When she is not working, Melissa enjoys photography, cooking, traveling, watching movies, reading, crafting, spending time in nature, and playing with her dogs.