Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
How Melissa works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMHC
- Licensed in
- Florida
- Years in practice
- 27
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Melissa
Melissa Colton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 27 years of experience. She focuses on practical therapy that helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, mood challenges, and anger. Her style is direct and compassionate, centered on forming a strong working relationship so clients feel heard and guided.
In sessions she uses clear, easy-to-understand methods drawn from client-centered work and cognitive behavioral approaches. That means conversations focus on current problems, what keeps them going, and small changes that can make daily life easier.
Background and approach
Mindfulness skills are often introduced to help manage intense feelings and build steady routines. Melissa also draws from dialectical behavior therapy ideas to teach emotion regulation and coping skills for overwhelming moments. She helps people notice patterns in thinking and behavior and practice alternatives that reduce conflict and self-criticism.
The approach is practical and grounded in everyday life tasks and choices. People who come for help with grief, relationship strain, parenting concerns, or career transitions find a calm space to sort priorities and set clear goals. Melissa describes therapy as a collaborative process where the person’s own values guide decisions about change.
She emphasizes small steps that add up over time. Sessions are offered through online formats, making it easier to fit work on anger, mood, and life changes into a busy schedule. Melissa aims to help people reconnect with their strengths and move toward the life they want.
What Melissa works with
Everything Melissa lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Melissa's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Guilt and shame
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Melissa lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Practical therapy approaches for online care
Melissa uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in straightforward ways online. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship so a person can explore their goals and values. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches concrete skills to change them.She often pairs those methods with elements of dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills. DBT-based skills are useful when feelings become intense or when someone needs tools for managing anger, overwhelming stress, or mood swings. The therapist and client work together to choose which approach fits the problem and the person’s preferences.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls are good for deeper conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging support ongoing coaching, brief check-ins, and skill practice between longer sessions. These options help make therapy fit a busy life and support steady progress toward goals.
Questions people ask about Melissa
What kinds of concerns does Melissa focus on?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders including bipolar, anger, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and related concerns like self esteem, parenting strain, and life purpose.
What is her general therapy style?
Her approach is warm and practical with an emphasis on strong therapeutic connection. She uses client-centered listening alongside skills-based methods to address present problems and build coping strategies.
How much experience does she have?
She has 27 years of experience working in mental health, bringing long-term practice with a range of mood and behavior concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, and practices in Florida.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session based on therapist availability.