Ages Served: 3 years old and up
Issues Addressed: Anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), LGBTQIA+, ADHD, ASD, Family dynamics, Parenting and co-parenting , Childhood behavioral issues, grief, life transitions and stressors
Treatment Modalities: mindfulness and grounding techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), person-centered approaches, positive psychology techniques, strengths based treatment, reality therapy
Availability: In Person: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 1pm-6 pm, Virtual: Thursday and Friday 9am- 5pm
Hello! I’m Melissa Andersen, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a focus on Counseling, a Master of Science in Psychology with a focus on Child Development from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. I am passionate about working with people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities, and I’ve had the privilege of supporting children, adolescents, and adults across the lifespan. My areas of focus include LGBTQIA+ needs, minority issues, ADHD, and integrating religious inclusion in counseling. I also incorporate creative and alternative therapies such as play, art, and music techniques into my practice to provide a holistic approach to healing and growth.
I address each individual based on their needs and strengths with their full participation in the development of a treatment approach and determining what progress looks like for them. I pride myself in using different modalities and techniques such as person-centered approaches, positive psychology techniques, strengths based treatment, reality therapy, Mindfulness, IFS, CBT, DBT, play techniques, and unconditional positive regard.
I understand that therapy can be a very vulnerable place and I celebrate an individual’s ability to participate in whichever way they can. We may find that homework and workbooks are helpful, or a space is needed for processing thoughts and feelings with a supportive, non-judgmental sounding board. Together we will develop a plan for each step in the process towards healing or mastering your goals.
In my free time I enjoy photography, cooking, traveling, watching movies, reading, learning, crafting, and spending time in nature.
