Hello! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 11 years of experience treating clients in a variety of settings including outpatient, community mental health, intensive family services, and most recently private practice. I currently see clients in both PA and FL for a variety of mental health issues as well as women's issues, stress management, LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy, life transitions, caregiver burnout, sleep issues, career difficulties, and more.
Prior to my work in the mental health field, I spent 15 years in operations management with a large logistics company. I returned to school in my early 40s and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
In addition to over a decade of experience in the mental health field, I have decades of work and life experiences that have shaped my ability to be a knowledgeable and compassionate therapist. I have worked with clients of all ages and backgrounds and pride myself on my ability to look beyond differences to find common ground and create a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where you can seek to be your happiest and healthiest self. I look forward to meeting you and discussing how we can work together to achieve your goals!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our first session together is all about getting to know you. We'll talk about who you are, what you enjoy, the challenges you're facing and what led you to therapy. We'll also talk a bit about your history and your past but our main focus will most likely be on your present experience and how we can improve that experience.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths as a provider are my ability to create a safe and welcoming environment from a place of warmth, kindness and compassion. I'm a great listener and ask thought provoking questions that guide self discovery. I'm a lifelong learner and continue to work on expanding my areas of expertise in order to pass that new knowledge on to my clients.
About Melissa A. Lumadue - MS, LPC
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Integrative
Integrative therapy is an individualized, holistic approach to therapy that combines ideas and techniques from different therapeutic schools of thought depending on the unique needs of a given client. Sometimes referred to as holistic therapy, this form of therapy considers an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health in a unified way. We will work together to understand the sources of anxiety, unhappiness, physical discomfort, or unhealthy behavior patterns in your life. In this way our therapeutic relationship is a partnership where you are the expert on your life and I guide you in your search for a happier, healthier way of life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that focuses on modifying unhelpful emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by identifying negative or irrational beliefs. CBT is a "solutions-oriented" form of talk therapy and rests on the idea that thoughts influence emotions and behavior. In session we will identify how your thoughts may be influencing your emotions and, in turn, your behavior. Together we will challenge negative patterns and work to replace them with positive, healthy ones in order to create a healthier thinking style and response to stress.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on teaching present moment awareness, reduction of negative/automatic responses, acceptance and non-judgement. Utilizing breathing exercises, guided meditations, mindfulness and discussion I will assist you in moving away from past and future focused thinking into present moment awareness and acceptance of your self and others.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy is an action-oriented approach to therapy that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Through identification and discussion of emotions, responses and beliefs about challenging situations I assist my clients in learning to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions. Clients begin to accept that their deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations and do not have to prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their challenges and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, despite what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it.
