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Dr. Melissa Harper, LMFT - Florida Therapist at Grow Therapy

Dr. Melissa Harper

Dr. Melissa Harper

(she/her)

LMFT
15 years of experience
Direct
Solution oriented
Virtual

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.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

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.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

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.

About Dr. Melissa Harper

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Free consults, virtual

My treatment methods

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