Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
How Melissa works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey
- Years in practice
- 13
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Melissa
Melissa Strauss is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 13 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, anger, relationship struggles, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. She also supports clients around parenting concerns, career questions, sleep and eating issues, and questions about identity and sexuality.
Her manner in sessions is warm and engaging. She listens first and works alongside people to set goals and make small changes. Melissa focuses on what a person can do now to feel steadier and more in control of daily life.
Background and approach
Melissa draws on several practical approaches to tailor sessions to each person. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to spot unhelpful thinking and shifting behavior. She brings in attachment-based work to look at how past relationships shape current patterns.
She also uses acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify values and take meaningful action. Clients can expect clear tools and gentle reflection. Conversations are direct but compassionate.
Melissa aims to build skills that people can use between sessions when stress or anger comes up. Her work includes attention to family of origin concerns, blended family issues, caregiver stress, body image, and communication problems. She also supports people dealing with fertility, fatherhood questions, and life transitions such as career changes or coping with bipolar mood challenges.
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
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- ADHD
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
Approaches Melissa lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches that translate online
Melissa uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to anxiety, anger, or depression, and then practices new skills to reduce distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to clarify personal values and take small, meaningful steps toward those values even when emotions are difficult.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa discusses goals and preferences with each person and blends methods to match what feels most helpful. Together they review what’s working and adjust the plan as needs change.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and skill coaching. Phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief updates, between-session support, or pacing therapy over a busy week.
Questions people ask about Melissa
What concerns does Melissa commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, anger, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, depression, and self-esteem challenges. Additional areas include parenting, sleep and eating problems, career and life transitions, and identity questions.
What is her general therapy style?
Sessions are warm and collaborative. Melissa listens first, helps set clear goals, and teaches practical tools to use between sessions.
What kind of background does she bring to therapy?
Melissa has 13 years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns including trauma, family dynamics, infertility, sexual identity work, and blended family issues.
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Pennsylvania and New Jersey LPC credentials and practices from Pennsylvania.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
How are sessions delivered?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions based on the therapist's availability.