Licensed to practice in Florida and accepts 50 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Coping Skills, Family Therapy and 3 more.
(she/her)
Hi, I am Dr. Melissa Harper, representing the Caribbean community where we have so many cultural nuances that cause us to shy away from therapy...I am here to navigate our cultural values while maintaining or mental health. I hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University (2009); COAMFTE Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the State of Florida. In addition to the extensive coursework, my training included: play therapy at University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development, as well as Responsive Teaching and developing healthy attachments between caregivers/parents and children. Also, working in substance abuse facilities with chronic substance abusers, and military persons who developed addictions. I’ve worked with teens in foster care, and families who are blended. I am also an adjunct professor in the Master’s Psychology program at Albizu University, Miami, FL. Furthermore, I hold a M.S. in Marriage& Family Therapy from St. Thomas University (CACREP) and B.A. degree in Psychology from Florida International University. I successfully completed the AMFTRB Exam (Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Board), earned the Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and also a Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. As a licensee of the Florida Department of Health, I will abide by its Code of Ethics. License # in the State of Florida: MT3263.
In our first session, we will develop rapport by engaging in introductions so I can begin to learn more about you and the experiences that have led you to this moment in your life. This session will go over housekeeping issues such as confidentiality, informed consent, rules of interaction and any legal/ethical concerns as it relates to self harm and/or harm to others. This session will end with the client's ability to verbalize their goal from therapy.
Being able to collaborate with clients to discovering that they are able to navigate their lives with the tools they already possess, but were unable to tap into their inner resiliency due to be overwhelmed by the problematic issue.
My work includes services to both individuals and families; both adults and children. My areas of specialties include: Relationship Issues , Blended Families, Behavioral Issues and Coping Skills. Helping clients to explore family dynamics, as well as develop the self are the two prominent areas in which I collaborate with families
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $120 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter Health
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Medicare
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Florida Blue
Florida Blue - Medicare
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
Medicare
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Doing therapy from a system's perspective allows me to focus on how the parts of the system impact each other and utilize solution-focussed narratives to replace problem-focussed narratives which helps to reduce the anxiety surrounding the presenting problem.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Recognizing that thought processes influence and shape behavior, therapy targets the automatic negative schemas that activate negative behaviors, and uses strategies that interrupt this cycle leading to different outcomes.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
The behavior which seems to frustrate us is usually caused by underlying emotions that the behavior evokes for us. EFT allows the client to explore the emotions present in their relationships that seems to me most troublesome and how to understand what these emotions mean on a personal level, and then arriving at a balance that works for both parties.
Existential
Life's ultimate question...why am I here? This treatment model seeks to help clients to explore their purpose as to their existence and how life's experiences and dynamics of relationships impact the ability to answer the ultimate question