Melissa Testa
Melissa Testa
(she/her)
With over 20 years of experience in the field of social work, I have honed my skills in outpatient strength-based, person-centered therapy. I provide a safe place for positive change to improve each individual's quality of life, based on their individual needs and goals. My approach to counseling is rooted in empathy, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, active listening, non-judgment, and a genuine desire to empower individuals to overcome their challenges. In this work, I draw from multiple evidence-based practices including Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Solution Focused Therapy, and Self-Care. "By taking the time to nourish our minds, bodies, and souls, we can cultivate resilience, improve our overall well-being and enhance our quality of life." -Wiz Olgy
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session my main goal is always to help make the individual feel welcomed, comfortable, safe, heard and validated. In our first session I will complete a psychosocial assessment which will provide a holistic understanding of the individual along with presenting issues. The psychosocial assessment is an essential tool used to gather information, understand individual needs, and develop a treatment plan that is effective and personalized. We will also discuss consent to treatment along with expectations and roles.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My biggest strength, I believe, is my genuine care and concern for others. I became a social worker many years ago with the same passion I have today which is to help others; to listen to them, provide support, to teach them the skills they need to achieve their goals so they can have the quality of life they deserve.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, mood lability, trauma, low self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts.
About Melissa Testa
I identify as
Serves ages
Licensed in
Appointments
Fully bookedMy treatment methods
EMDR
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy is the gentler way to start healing from trauma
Supportive
I provide a safe place for positive change to improve each individual's quality of life, based on their individual needs and goals. My approach to counseling is rooted in empathy, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, active listening, non-judgment, and a genuine desire to empower individuals to overcome their challenges.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in thousands of clinical trials for many different disorders including anxiety and depression. CBT is the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviors are interconnected. I focus on supporting individuals in identifying and challenging automatic negative thoughts that contribute to their emotional distress.