Melissa Erb
My name is Melissa Erb, PsyD Candidate, LCSW. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in San Diego, California, and a current Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate specializing in neuropsychology.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in San Diego, California, and a current Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate specializing in neuropsychology.
I provide therapy to clients statewide through telehealth, working with adults and adolescents who are managing anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Using Psychodynamic and Mindfulness Therapy helps me meet clients where they are, creating an approach that allows them to begin at a comfortable pace. My approach is not one-size-fits-all; we'll work together to navigate a path for your progress. I most frequently use Mindfulness Therapy, which focuses on learning how to be more aware of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and surroundings, and to reduce automatic responses. I meet clients where they are at and honor you as the expert of your story.
First session
During the first session, we meet to discuss how you're feeling and what brought you to therapy. As you share what's been happening recently, I'll ask follow-up questions to get a sense of what would work best for you. My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and evidence-based practice. Healing begins when clients feel truly seen and understood, so I work to create a warm, nonjudgmental, and empowering space. Together, we move at a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable, creating a safe and collaborative space for growth.
Strengths
What makes me unique as a therapist is the combination of lived experience, emotional depth, and clinical intention that I bring into the room. I do not rely solely on theory—I integrate insights with real-world understanding of change, resilience, and complexity. Having navigated significant life transitions myself, including cultural shifts and relational challenges, I sit with clients in a way that feels grounded and genuine. Clients often sense that I am not easily shaken and that I can hold intensity without rushing to fix or minimize it. My experience as a therapist has shaped me into someone who values depth over quick solutions. I am comfortable exploring attachment patterns, relational wounds, and the unconscious themes that quietly influence behavior. At the same time, I remain practical and attentive to the client’s goals. I balance warmth with structure, and empathy with clarity. I am not afraid of silence, vulnerability, or strong emotion, and I see the therapeutic relationship itself as a powerful vehicle for change.
Ideal clients
I work with adults and young adults facing difficult life transitions—intimate breakups, divorce, career changes, loss, or financial strains—that lead to anxiety, depression, stress, and at times suicidal ideation. I focus on building skills using brief crisis interventions or helping you develop a more positive and hopeful outlook. I meet clients where they are at and honor you as the expert of your story. My style is open, non-judgmental, transparent, and patient. It's most important that a safe space is created so you can feel comfortable being transparent without judgment.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
In my practice, I use a psychodynamic approach to help clients explore how past relationships and early experiences may influence their current emotions, behaviors, and relational patterns. I pay close attention to recurring themes, attachment styles, defenses, and unconscious processes that emerge both in their stories and within the therapeutic relationship itself. By gently exploring these patterns, I help clients develop insight into how unresolved conflicts or unmet needs may still be shaping their present lives. My goal when working with clients is not only symptom relief but also deeper, lasting change through increased self-awareness, emotional integration, and a stronger sense of internal coherence.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 118584