LCSW-C, 25 years of experience
Hi! I’m a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW-C) based in Maryland. I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, in Baltimore, MD. I’ve been in the helping field for over 24 years. I help children and adults become the best versions of themselves. I enjoy meeting new people and listening to their life stories.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. I will allow you to tell your life story and how to came to the point you are in this exact moment. We will discuss your strengths and weaknesses. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
I have a safe place to talk and do not judge anyone. We are all on a journey with different challenges. Having worked in the child welfare/crisis intervention field for the past 24 years, I’ve developed an array of skills to help you identify the root cause of your challenges and to create a plan that helps you deal with and overcome your current symptomology.
I love working with adults, children, and families. My primary experience is in child welfare which includes assisting with family preservation, improved interpersonal relationships, youth engagement, mediation, and helping locate appropriate supports and services. I enjoy partnering with people to learn tools to help them become their best selves.
MI skills allow me to recognize and respect one's autonomy. It helps to ask a series of open-ended questions that allow the person to process and uncover their desire, ability, and reasons for change. This is where the shift changes to begin planning positive changes for a better You!
Strength-Based Therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses on the person's internal strengths and resourcefulness, rather than weaknesses, failures, or shortcomings. We will work together to identify your strengths and build your self-esteem to face your challenges in the best way possible.
CBT treatment involves helping one identify distortions in thinking that are creating problems in all aspects of life. Once the distorted behaviors are discussed and better understood, then we will move towards reevaluating the problems in light of reality. We will problem-solve and implement coping skills for difficult situations and learn new patterns of behavior. You will have a greater sense of confidence in one's abilities and be a better version of You.
4 ratings with written reviews
May 20, 2025
I can’t say enough positive things about my experience with Melissa. From our very first session, I felt heard, supported, and genuinely understood. She created a safe and welcoming space. Her insight, empathy, and gentle guidance helped me navigate my challenges with clarity and confidence. I’ve grown so much thanks to her expertise and care. I highly recommend Melissa to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled therapist.
May 1, 2025
She is honestly really great! She's really helped me talk myself through my anxieties and also with my self-esteem issues. I look forward to talking to her during our sessions!
March 6, 2025
It was really good session. I think she was really professional and I am looking forward to beginning my mental health journey with her help and advice.