(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi, I'm Melisa, a licensed professional counselor, and I'm skilled in cultivating strong, lasting relationships. As a Christian therapist, my approach is compassionate, collaborative, integrative, and grounded in evidence-based practices. Together, we’ll create a safe space where you can explore what’s beneath the surface, uncover your strengths, and learn tools to foster emotional balance and resilience. Whether you’re coping with loss, healing from painful experiences, or striving for a deeper connection within, you don’t have to go through this alone. Reaching out for support is a courageous first step toward change. I’d be honored to walk with you on your journey toward a more peaceful, authentic, and fulfilling life.
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a strong therapeutic relationship. My primary focus is understanding your concerns, goals, and unique circumstances so that I can provide the support and guidance that best meets your needs.
As a relationship expert, I am deeply committed to helping you build stronger, healthier, and more fulfilling relationships—starting with the one you have with yourself. My work is compassionate and collaborative, grounded in evidence-based practices and guided by genuine care. As a Christian counselor, I also offer the option to incorporate biblical principles into our sessions, aligning your spiritual beliefs with the therapeutic process to foster healing and growth. I view therapy as a collaborative journey, where we work together to explore your goals and create meaningful change in your life. I also offer CBT, DBT, Family Systems, and other evidence-based techniques
My ideal clients are individuals and couples navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, work-related stress, and communication difficulties. I am passionate about helping clients gain insight, develop effective coping strategies, and create meaningful change in their lives and relationships. I also have experience working with survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, providing a supportive and compassionate environment for healing and growth. In addition, I have worked with adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system, helping them address behavioral, emotional, and life challenges while fostering resilience and personal accountability. I have found these areas of practice especially rewarding.
Other specialties
I identify as
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I primarily utilize the person-centered approach to therapy because I believe that most individuals already have an understanding of what they want to achieve; they often benefit from a supportive environment and encouragement as they work toward their goals. This is typically my preferred treatment modality, as it empowers clients to draw upon their own strengths, insights, and capacity for growth. However, when working with clients who seek more direct guidance, structure, or feedback, I incorporate additional therapeutic approaches to better meet their needs.
Christian Counseling
I incorporate a Christian counseling approach when clients specifically request it or share that they selected me as their therapist because of my faith background. I view myself not simply as a therapist who happens to be a Christian, but as a Christian therapist whose faith informs my clinical work when appropriate and desired by the client. I earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling, which provided specialized training in Integration. This allows me to effectively address both the emotional and spiritual dimensions of a client's concerns when faith-based counseling is a treatment goal.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I regularly incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into my practice, often alongside other therapeutic approaches. CBT helps clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop healthier perspectives, and create meaningful behavioral change. I use CBT because it provides practical tools and strategies that empower clients to actively participate in their healing process.
Couples Counseling
I consider relationship counseling to be one of my primary areas of focus and work with many couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. In my practice, I incorporate evidence-based approaches such as the Gottman Method and RelateStrong principles to help couples better understand their patterns of interaction and build healthier connections. For couples pursuing premarital counseling, I utilize the Prepare/Enrich assessment to identify strengths, growth areas, and important topics for discussion before marriage.