LMFT, 20 years of experience
I have devoted my life to understanding human behavior, the mind, and the complex dynamics that shape our relationships and sense of self. My approach is informed by a combination of personal, professional, and spiritual experience, and I bring a deep understanding of what it takes to heal, grow, and thrive. I am passionate about helping people build healthy, fulfilling relationships, navigate conflict, set boundaries, and move through challenging family dynamics with clarity and confidence. I specialize in working with individuals and couples to develop secure attachment, strengthen self-esteem, and foster authentic connection. Whether you are struggling with patterns of conflict in your relationships, feeling stuck in old family dynamics, or seeking to understand yourself on a deeper level, my goal is to help you uncover the tools, insights, and awareness needed to live your healthiest, most empowered life. Because of my own history and experiences with trauma, I bring a perspective of deep empathy, understanding, and non-judgment to every session. I believe that therapy is a collaborative journey, and I am committed to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore, heal, and grow at your own pace. My work draws from attachment theory, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, humanistic psychotherapy, and conflict-resolution strategies, all grounded in lived experience and a genuine passion for helping others. I aim to help clients not just cope, but thrive—building resilience, strengthening self-awareness, and cultivating the kind of relationships and life they truly desire. Every person has the capacity to transform their patterns, their relationships, and their relationship with themselves. My purpose is to guide and support you on that journey, helping you step into the healthiest, most authentic version of yourself.
Starting therapy is a brave step, and I want you to feel as comfortable as possible from the beginning. In our first session, my goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can share what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from it. We’ll move at your pace. I won’t pressure you to share more than you feel ready for, but I’ll gently guide the conversation so we can begin to understand what’s most important to you. During this time, I’ll ask questions to get a sense of your story, your current challenges, and your goals. Many clients say the first session feels like a mix of conversation and reflection it’s an opportunity for me to learn about you, but also for you to get a feel for my style and whether it feels like a good fit. You can expect me to listen closely and validate your experiences, while also beginning to identify patterns or areas where we may want to focus. We might talk about your relationships, past experiences, current stressors, or anything else that feels relevant. I’ll also invite you to ask me questions about how I work, my approach, or therapy in general. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer idea of what working together could look like. We’ll discuss next steps, possible goals, and how often we might meet. The process is collaborative—I view therapy as a partnership, where we work together to help you move toward greater clarity, resilience, and connection. Most importantly, you can expect to feel heard, respected, and supported from the very first session. My role is not to judge, but to walk alongside you as you navigate challenges and create meaningful change in your life.
What stands out about my approach is that I work in a way that is both deeply compassionate and practical. I believe that healing happens in the context of safe, supportive relationships, so I focus on creating a therapeutic space where you feel truly seen and understood. My work is trauma-informed and attachment-based, which means I pay close attention to how past experiences, early relationships, and protective patterns may be showing up in your life today. At the same time, I know clients often want concrete tools they can use right away. I integrate evidence-based methods—such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and somatic awareness—so you can begin to regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and build healthier coping skills. I often combine insight-oriented exploration with present-moment practices that help you feel more grounded and empowered in daily life. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I’m both warm and direct. I won’t just nod and listen—I’ll gently challenge you, offer reflections, and help you recognize patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Together, we’ll work toward creating lasting changes in the way you think, feel, and relate to others. The results many of my clients experience include: Greater clarity about themselves and their needs Stronger boundaries and healthier relationships Reduced anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm A sense of empowerment and confidence in navigating life’s challenges A deeper connection to themselves and others Ultimately, my approach is relational, holistic, and collaborative—I tailor each session to you, because no two people heal in the same way.
My ideal clients are individuals and couples who are ready to do the deeper work of healing, growth, and transformation. They come to therapy with self-awareness, curiosity, and a genuine desire to understand themselves and their relationships more fully. They are motivated to explore the patterns that keep them feeling stuck, whether in their emotions, behaviors, or relationships, and are committed to creating meaningful, lasting change. Many of my clients come because they feel caught in painful relational or emotional cycles. They may be struggling with recurring conflict, challenges with intimacy, feeling confused, difficulties setting or maintaining boundaries, anxiety, trauma, or attachment wounds. Some feel disconnected from themselves or the people they care about, while others are navigating the effects of family dynamics or generational patterns that continue to influence their lives. What unites them is a desire to move beyond surface-level solutions and find a more integrated, compassionate approach to their growth. I work best with clients who are open, engaged, and willing to actively participate in the therapeutic process. My approach is organic and collaborative: I encourage clients to bring their thoughts, questions, and challenges into our discussions. This allows us to explore both the immediate concerns and the deeper roots of their patterns, and to create insights and tools that support real transformation. My clients understand that change is a process, and they are willing to do the reflective and sometimes challenging work it requires. For couples, I work with partners who want to reconnect, break cycles of conflict, and build secure attachment and mutual understanding. These couples are willing to engage fully in the process, knowing that growth takes commitment, honesty, and consistent effort from both partners. For individual clients, I work with people who want to deepen their self-awareness, heal from past trauma or attachment injuries, and strengthen self-esteem. They are motivated to explore themselves honestly, regulate their nervous system, and cultivate healthier relationships with themselves and others. It’s important to note that I do not provide couples therapy through Kaiser or any insurance; my practice is exclusively cash-pay. This allows me to provide the time, attention, and personalized care each client deserves, without the limitations of insurance-driven sessions. If you are ready to reflect deeply, engage in meaningful work, and take intentional steps toward growth, connection, and self-empowerment, you are the kind of client I work best with. Together, we can explore your patterns, understand your emotional and relational dynamics, and create the tools and insights that allow you to live more fully, authentically, and securely.
*I DO NOT ACCEPT KAISER OR ANY INSURANCE FOR COUPLES THERAPY, I can however provide a superbill and you may be able to submit to insurance for possible partial reimbursement Couples therapy is one of my areas of expertise. Much of my work focuses on helping partners resolve conflict and strengthen their attachment bond. I take an approach that is deeply informed by attachment theory and draws on principles from the Gottman Method, along with my own lived experience navigating relationships. While I am not formally certified in Gottman therapy, I find its research-based strategies very effective and integrate them into my practice. In sessions, I help couples identify and understand the deeper emotional needs that often lie beneath recurring arguments—needs for safety, closeness, respect, and belonging. When those needs are unmet, they often show up as criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, or disconnection. By working together to uncover these patterns, I guide couples toward repairing ruptures and creating healthier cycles of interaction. I also support partners in developing practical skills for communication, conflict management, rebuilding trust, and fostering both emotional and physical intimacy. My approach balances compassionate listening with direct feedback, so couples feel both supported and challenged to grow together. Clients often share that through this work they not only resolve immediate issues but also experience a renewed sense of connection, deeper understanding of one another, and greater confidence in navigating future challenges as a team. Because of my background and lived experience, I bring both professional expertise and personal empathy into the therapy room. I know how painful relationship struggles can be—and I also know that with the right support, couples can transform conflict into opportunities for closeness, growth, and healing.
Attachment theory is at the heart of much of my work. Our earliest relationships shape how we see ourselves, how safe we feel in the world, and how we connect with others. When those bonds are disrupted or inconsistent, it can lead to patterns of anxiety, avoidance, or disconnection that show up later in life—in relationships, self-esteem, and even in the way we manage stress. In my practice, I use an attachment-based approach to help clients recognize and understand these patterns with compassion, not judgment. Together, we explore how your current struggles may be linked to earlier experiences of connection or disconnection, and how these patterns play out in your relationships today. By bringing awareness to these dynamics, you gain the ability to respond in new, healthier ways rather than repeating old cycles. My work is both relational and experiential. I view the therapeutic relationship as a powerful place to begin healing attachment wounds. In our work together, I focus on creating a safe, consistent, and supportive environment where you can experience what it feels like to be understood, accepted, and valued. Over time, this provides a corrective emotional experience—one that can help shift how you relate not just to me, but to yourself and the people in your life. I also integrate practical tools and strategies to strengthen secure attachment, such as developing self-soothing skills, setting healthy boundaries, and improving communication. For couples, I help each partner understand their own attachment style and how it interacts with their partner’s, so they can move from cycles of conflict to cycles of repair and closeness. Clients often share that through this process they experience greater emotional security, stronger relationships, and a deeper sense of self-worth. For me, attachment therapy is about more than understanding the past—it’s about helping you create new ways of connecting that feel safe, fulfilling, and sustainable.
I integrate the principles of Polyvagal Theory into my work because I believe understanding and working with the nervous system is essential for healing. Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains how our nervous system constantly scans for safety or danger, and how this impacts the way we think, feel, and connect with others. When we’ve experienced trauma, stress, or relational difficulties, our nervous system can get stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or shutdown. This can leave us feeling anxious, disconnected, or unable to fully engage in relationships and daily life. By using a polyvagal-informed approach, I help clients recognize these states with compassion and develop tools to return to a place of calm, safety, and connection. In practice, this often involves: Building awareness of how your body and nervous system respond to stress Practicing grounding and regulation skills that help shift you into a calmer state Using breath, mindfulness, and somatic practices to reconnect with the body Exploring how these nervous system patterns show up in relationships and learning how to create safety and trust in connection with others I also view the therapeutic relationship itself as a regulating experience. By offering safety, attunement, and acceptance, I help clients experience what it feels like to be calm and connected in relationship—something that often extends into their lives outside of therapy. Clients often share that polyvagal-informed therapy helps them feel more grounded, resilient, and in control of their emotions, while also deepening their capacity for connection with others. For me, Polyvagal Theory offers a powerful framework: it normalizes our nervous system responses, removes shame from the healing process, and provides practical tools for creating lasting emotional regulation and safety.
A central part of my work is being trauma-informed, which means I recognize how past overwhelming experiences can continue to impact the mind, body, and relationships long after the event has passed. Trauma can show up as anxiety, depression, difficulty trusting others, feeling emotionally “stuck,” or being easily triggered by reminders of the past. In my practice, I focus on creating an environment of safety, choice, and empowerment—the three pillars of trauma-informed care. From the very beginning, I move at your pace. You are always in control of what you share and how deeply we go. My role is to listen, support, and gently guide without pushing you beyond what feels safe. I integrate approaches that help regulate the nervous system, reduce shame, and build resilience, drawing from attachment theory, Compassion Focused Therapy, and humanistic principles. Because trauma often disconnects us from ourselves and others, a key part of our work is gently restoring that sense of connection—helping you feel grounded in your body, confident in your voice, and supported in your relationships. I also believe the therapeutic relationship itself is healing. Many people with trauma have experienced relationships where their boundaries, needs, or emotions were not respected. In our work together, I strive to create a corrective emotional experience where you feel truly heard, respected, and valued. Clients often report that through trauma-informed therapy they gain greater self-compassion, emotional stability, and a renewed sense of empowerment in their lives. For me, being trauma-informed is not about focusing only on the past, but about helping you reclaim your present and future with strength and hope.
In addition to evidence-based approaches, my work is also informed by Transpersonal Therapy, which recognizes that healing is not only about resolving symptoms but also about connecting with deeper aspects of self, meaning, and purpose. This approach honors the mind, body, and spirit as interconnected, and it invites clients to explore growth on multiple levels—emotional, psychological, relational, and spiritual. Transpersonal therapy is especially powerful for people who feel that something is missing in their lives, or who want to go beyond simply coping and move toward greater fulfillment and wholeness. It creates space to explore questions such as: Who am I? What gives my life meaning? How do I connect to something greater than myself? In practice, I weave transpersonal principles into therapy through: Exploring values, beliefs, and personal meaning Using mindfulness and meditation practices to cultivate presence and inner awareness Supporting clients in connecting with creativity, intuition, and a sense of purpose Integrating spiritual or existential themes into therapy in a way that honors each person’s unique perspective and background I combine this with my trauma-informed, attachment-based, and humanistic approaches so that clients feel safe and grounded as they explore deeper levels of healing and self-discovery. Clients who work with me in this way often report feeling a greater sense of inner peace, clarity, and connection—both to themselves and to something larger than themselves, however they define it. For me, transpersonal therapy is about helping you discover not only how to heal but also how to live a life that feels authentic, purposeful, and whole.
2 ratings with written reviews
July 11, 2025
I can't say enough good things about Melissa. She is truly exceptional, intelligent, insightful, and incredibly compassionate. From the very first session, I felt deeply heard and understood. She doesn't just listen, she really listens with empathy, focus and without judgement. She has a way of cutting through the noise and helping me see things clearly, offering guidance that is both practical and deeply thoughtful. I always feel more grounded and lighter after our sessions. Love love her!
April 29, 2025
Working with Melissa has been a game-changer. Her authenticity shines through in every conversation, making me feel truly seen and understood. She empowers me to find solutions that fit my life, always guiding me with warmth and support. I leave each session feeling stronger and more hopeful—she’s been an incredible partner in my journey.