LP, 18 years of experience
Hi! I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia. I am currently not accepting referrals for psychological evaluations/psychoeducational evaluations. I have over 18 years of experience working with families, helping them navigate the challenges of mental illness, including anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, Autism, PTSD, and Bipolar Disorder. I use evidence-based techniques from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and other treatment modalities to tailor treatment to the needs of my clients.
Our journey towards your mental wellness begins with our first session. We will delve into the specific challenges you are facing and set specific treatment goals together. This collaborative approach ensures that you are actively involved in your healing process.
I am very empathic and compassionate. My biggest strengths lie in my ability to connect with my clients on a personal level, fostering a safe and supportive environment. I also bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in dealing with a wide range of mental health issues. One of my core values is to treat all my clients with the utmost respect, acknowledging and respecting their unique differences and cultural backgrounds.
I am passionate about assisting young adults and individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, or life transitions who are struggling to reach their full potential or achieve their goals due to mental health challenges. I also enjoy supporting parents who are grappling with their child's mental illness and equipping them with self-care skills to better support their loved ones. My priority is to empower my clients with effective coping strategies and therapeutic tools to not just survive but thrive in their current circumstances.
As a psychologist implementing Cognitive Behavior Therapy, I adopt an empathic and supportive approach that emphasizes the transformative relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By leveraging CBT methods such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and mindfulness, I collaborate with clients to identify and challenge their cognitive distortions, replacing them with balanced and healthier thoughts. In addressing a wide range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, and interpersonal conflicts, my holistic approach is designed to inspire hope and optimism, encouraging personal development and improving mental health.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a structured, collaborative therapy for anxiety and OCD. Together we identify the situations, thoughts, and images that trigger fear, then approach them step by step while practicing resisting safety behaviors such as rituals, checking, and avoidance. We plan each step and move at a pace you choose. With repetition, anxiety tends to rise, level off, and then fall on its own, and feared outcomes often prove less likely or more manageable than they feel. Practice between sessions helps the learning take hold. The aim is not suffering but retraining your responses so you can reengage with what matters and live more freely.
The Bible is a rich source of stories portraying resilience in the midst of adversity. Upon the client's request, I include faith-based counseling in our collaborative therapy sessions, honoring their Christian beliefs and values. Together, we navigate their current mental health struggles through the lens of scriptures and faith.
Psychoeducation is a huge part of therapy. I strive to educate the client on their diagnosis and equip them with coping strategies to live a productive life. Homework is often incorporated as an integral part of therapy to aid in the acquisition and maintenance of skills.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a structured therapy for PTSD that helps you gently face trauma memories and the everyday situations you have been avoiding. We start with education about how PTSD works and a simple breathing skill. Together, we build a plan to approach safe but feared places, people, and activities in small, repeatable steps. In sessions, you also recount the trauma memory in a focused, present-tense way, then listen to a recording between sessions. This repeated practice teaches your brain that the memory and reminders are not dangerous, so distress tends to lessen and control increases. The pace is collaborative, and temporary discomfort is expected but time-limited. The aim is to reduce avoidance, regain a sense of safety, and reenter the parts of life that matter to you.
1 rating with written reviews
April 25, 2025
Meeting with Dr. Melika has helped so much with my goal of managing my anxiety. She is a kind and knowledgeable provider!