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Melissa Esstrada-Ruiz

LMFT, 8 years of experience

New to Grow

Virtual
Next available on

About me

Welcome, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I have been working in the field of mental health for over 8 years. I enjoy working with patience in achieving their mental health goals. Whether this is your first time in therapy or you are a seasoned client, I congratulate you on this next step of your journey. My goal is to create a safe space for clients to feel heard and understood as they navigate through their journey. I aim to cultivate a warm and inviting environment where they are met with empathy and support while recognizing necessary elements such as change, personal strengths, and radical acceptance.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

The first visit is a time to get to know you a little bit and gain an understanding of what brought you into therapy. It is an opportunity for clients to also assess if they feel the provider was a good fit. Having a good rapport is necessary in this work, and I will always support clients in seeking that, even if it is not with me.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

I have long felt that a career in serving others is something I wanted to dedicate my life to. I began my work in the field as a school mental health counselor and fell in love with the work of individual therapy. Since then, I have worked at rehab centers, medical clinics, and non-profits.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I have had the pleasure of working with an array of populations, including children, adolescents, and adults. I enjoy assisting clients of all backgrounds in taking steps towards their mental health goals. However, I do have a special interest in supporting women battling with anxiety, stress, and depression.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Chronic IllnessGriefSpirituality

I identify as

Christian

Serves ages

My treatment methods

Christian Counseling

There are numerous empirical studies done on the value of spirituality/faith and its impact on mental health. As a practicing Christian myself, I love incorporating such elements when clients identify faith as a core value they hold. It is never something I press on my patience, but I do bring it into the room if clients are looking to include this element into their work.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Like many therapist today, I was heavily taught cognitive behavior therapy in my bachelors and masters programs. It is an approach I have utilized for years and continue to use due to its empirically supported evidence in supporting the decrease of a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, and PTSD

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

Similar to my experience with CBT, I have found substantial benefit in the DBT approach. It stems form CBT but highly encompasses mindfulness. I utilize techniques from this theory particularly when supporting clients in emotional regulation, bettering communication, and improving relationships.

Eclectic

I would say that above all, I have developed an eclectic approach to therapy. In other words, I dont focus on any one therapeutic approach. instead, I pull from various therapeutic styles in accordance to client's needs and treatment goals. I firmly believe that each patient is unique and requires a tailored approach.

Location

Virtual

Licensed in

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.