Melissa Tirado
Hi there, Melissa. Do you feel overwhelmed with the the day by day challenges of life, and are having a hard time coping and managing your thoughts and feelings? Are you struggling to keep up with your relationships, work and health? And find it difficult to live a fulfilled and balanced lifestyle. Im here to help you and guide you in working towards achieving strength, resiliency acceptance and overall stability.
In our sessions together, I'll meet you with compassion and evidence-based techniques so you can overcome the hangups and habits holding you back.
I help high performers manage anxiety and avoid burnout. Together, we can identify what's not working and get you back to balance. We'll use a whole self approach, addressing the needs of your mind, body and spirit. I also integrate mindfulness, yoga and art to help you develop a stronger relationship with yourself. Whether you're dealing with overwhelm, relationship issues or cycles of anxiety and depression, I'm here to help. In our sessions together, I'll meet you with compassion and evidence-based techniques so you can overcome the hangups and habits holding you back. Let's work together!
First session
During the first session, clients can expect a welcoming, safe, and nonjudgmental environment where they have an opportunity to share what brought them to therapy and what they hope to accomplish. I understand that beginning therapy can feel uncomfortable or overwhelming, so I do not expect clients to have everything figured out or to share anything they are not yet comfortable discussing. The first session will focus on getting to know the client, understanding their current concerns, learning about relevant personal and family history, and identifying strengths and resources that may support their treatment. We will also discuss expectations for therapy, confidentiality and its limits, treatment goals, and how we can work together throughout the therapeutic process. I view therapy as a collaborative process. Clients are encouraged to ask questions, express concerns, provide feedback, and participate in determining the goals and direction of treatment. My role is to provide guidance, support, clinical knowledge, and appropriate therapeutic interventions while respecting the client's autonomy and individual experiences. Clients should leave the first session with a clearer understanding of what to expect from therapy and, when possible, a beginning sense of the goals we will work toward together. Most importantly, I want clients to know that they do not have to navigate their challenges alone and that therapy can be a space to explore their experiences, recognize their strengths, develop new skills, and work toward meaningful change.
Strengths
My approach stands out due to my increasingly motivation to make a difference not only in the lives of individuals who have been victimized, but also in the lives of those whose mental health challenges, substance use, or unresolved trauma may have contributed to behaviors that harmed others. I developed a deeper understanding that individuals can be impacted by trauma and adversity in very different ways, and that many people carry experiences that influence how they perceive themselves, their relationships, and the world around them.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is an individual who is willing to explore their experiences, develop greater self-awareness, and work toward meaningful change. I am particularly drawn to working with individuals who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, emotional challenges, trauma-related concerns, life transitions, or difficulties with coping and emotional regulation. I have a particular interest in supporting individuals who may have experienced trauma, interpersonal difficulties, or challenging family dynamics that continue to influence their thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and sense of self. I also value working with individuals who may feel stuck in patterns that no longer serve them but are ready to explore healthier ways of responding. My ideal client does not need to have all the answers or be completely ready for change. They simply need to be willing to begin the process. I recognize that readiness can look different for everyone, and I strive to meet clients where they are while helping them identify realistic and achievable steps forward. Using a person-centered, strengths-based approach, along with CBT and DBT-informed interventions, I work collaboratively with clients to identify their strengths, challenge unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, develop effective coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen relationships. Ultimately, my ideal client is someone who is looking for a safe and supportive space to be heard, understood, and empowered. I want to help clients recognize that their past experiences and current challenges do not define their worth or determine their future. With support, self-awareness, and a willingness to grow, I believe clients can develop the skills and confidence needed to create meaningful and positive changes in their lives.
Treatment methods
Strength-Based
My therapeutic approach is grounded in a strengths-based perspective, which focuses on recognizing and building upon the strengths, resilience, abilities, and potential that each individual possesses. I believe that clients are more than their diagnoses, past experiences, challenges, or mistakes. While it is important to acknowledge and process the difficulties that have shaped an individual’s life, I also believe it is equally important to help clients recognize the strengths they have developed as a result of overcoming adversity.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Through a DBT-informed approach, I help clients increase awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and develop skills to respond rather than react to difficult situations. Interventions may include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can help clients better manage emotional distress, tolerate uncomfortable experiences, communicate their needs, establish healthy boundaries, and strengthen relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Using a CBT-informed approach, I work collaboratively with clients to identify unhelpful or distorted thought patterns, examine the beliefs underlying those thoughts, and develop more balanced and realistic perspectives. Clients are encouraged to explore how their thoughts and behaviors may contribute to emotional distress and to identify healthier ways of responding to challenging situations. My use of CBT aligns with my strengths-based philosophy because I view clients as active participants in their own growth. Rather than simply focusing on symptoms, I help clients identify their existing strengths and use those strengths to challenge limiting beliefs, develop healthier patterns, and work toward meaningful change. Ultimately, my goal is to help clients gain greater insight into their thoughts, develop healthier behavioral patterns, improve emotional regulation, and recognize that they have the ability to make choices that support their well-being and future goals.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
A person-centered approach allows me to meet clients where they are while recognizing that their behaviors and responses may have developed as ways of coping with past experiences or current circumstances. Rather than defining clients by their diagnoses, challenges, or past behaviors, I focus on the whole person and the strengths and possibilities that exist beyond those difficulties. I also believe that creating a strong therapeutic alliance can help clients develop greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and confidence. Through collaboration and open exploration, I encourage clients to identify their own goals and recognize their ability to make meaningful choices and changes in their lives.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- FloridaLicense MH21144