Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 26 insurances. Specializes in ADHD, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) and 10 more.
(she/her)
Clients say this provider is
Welcome! I'm Melissa. Are you naturally introspective and seeking clarity on how to better understand yourself, your relationships and your inner world? Have you always wondered why you feel different or been questioned about being "too sensitive?" Have you had to deal with unique challenges in your life such as chronic pain, sensory or social difficulties, neurodiversity, or OCD? I aim to provide a safe and empowering space to explore the questions about yourself that you have always wondered about. Due to our own life experiences, some of these questions and feelings may have been disregarded or pushed away by others or ourselves. As a neurodivergent therapist myself, I work with individuals who identify as highly sensitive, neurodiverse, struggling with inferential OCD, and/or struggling to understand their relationship patterns. I will approach therapy with you from the mindset of being collaborative co-pilots. While I will guide you along your journey, I believe that you play a powerful role in your own healing. For each individual I work with, I will always work to adapt to your own needs. I may implement a variety of techniques including neurodiversity-affirming techniques, parts work, EMDR, acceptance and commitment therapy, behavioral experiments and mindfulness exercises. As a clinician, I embrace authenticity, uniqueness and humor, as my priority is to help acknowledge that we are all human.
In our first session together, I will do my best to make sure the session feels as comfortable as possible. I will be gathering some psychosocial background, and severity of past and present issues, but my hope is for this first session to feel like a back and forth conversation, where clients feel that they can ask questions as well. I will guide the structure of the session, but will welcome questions, feedback, etc. along the way. I will also be explaining a more in-depth approach to my therapy style and collaboratively identify areas of priority to work on. Goal setting usually occurs in the 2nd or 3rd session depending on information gathered.
Strengths include creating a warm, nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel understood and supported. I specialize in helping clients identify patterns, build self-awareness, and develop greater self-compassion. I have particular strengths in working with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, autism/neurodivergence, perfectionism, people-pleasing, shame, and clients who feel overwhelmed by their emotions or expectations of themselves. I value collaboration, pacing therapy to each client’s needs, and helping clients develop practical tools while also exploring deeper emotional and relational patterns.
I work with thoughtful, introspective adults who often feel different, misunderstood, or like they have spent years trying to adapt to the expectations of others. Many of my clients are highly sensitive, neurodivergent, or experience anxiety and OCD patterns that make everyday life feel exhausting. I especially enjoy working with individuals navigating ADHD, autism/neurodivergence, OCD (including intrusive thoughts, uncertainty, and “just right” experiences), perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationship challenges, and difficulty trusting themselves. Many of my clients are self-aware and insightful, but may often feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-criticism, or feeling like they are “too much” or “not enough.” I also work with clients who are trying to better understand themselves after years of feeling out of place, masking, pushing through, or wondering why certain experiences seem easier for others. Together, we can explore your unique patterns, strengths, and needs while building tools for greater self-compassion, flexibility, and confidence.
Cash - $120 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Anthem
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
My approach to EMDR is collaborative, paced, and focused on helping you feel safe and supported throughout the process. EMDR can help you process difficult experiences, reduce the emotional intensity connected to past events, and develop a more compassionate and balanced understanding of yourself. Before beginning reprocessing, I spend time building awareness of your emotions, body responses, coping strategies, and internal resources so that you feel prepared and empowered. I believe EMDR should not feel rushed, and I work with each client to adapt the pace and approach to their individual needs. I integrate EMDR with other therapeutic approaches, including parts work, mindfulness, and cognitive strategies, to help clients explore patterns, heal from painful experiences, and create lasting change.
I have completed several IFS trainings and am currently in training with the IFS Circle program. I often integrate parts work with clients experiencing "parts" that are currently getting in the way of general life satisfaction and functioning. When integrating this approach with clients, we will focus on identifying and allowing these parts to feel fully understood and validated, while also strengthening our lead Self. In my practice, implementing IFS has been particularly helpful to clients experiencing excessive and frequent amounts of guilt, low self-esteem and anxiety.
I frequently implement this modality with neurodivergent clients to assist them in increasing self acceptance, and learning how to live a life that aligns more with their personal values system. I also utilize this approach when working with highly sensitive clients and/or clients struggling with chronic pain and illness. I've found this modality to be very effective with clients in increasing self-esteem, becoming more accepting of their unique strengths and contributions to the world, and helping to regain their sense of purpose, which often looks different based on different phases and life circumstances.