Melissa has dedicated over 28 years to the health field, and through her vast experiences in her career and personal life, she found her passion in mental health. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Idaho State University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. Melissa is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and is licensed to practice in Arizona.
Building a strong relationship with her clients is at the heart of her work. Melissa believes that feeling heard, understood, and accepted is essential for clients to progress and achieve their goals. She feels honored to be by her clients’ sides during their challenging times and truly enjoys witnessing their growth and transformation.
Clients often describe Melissa as genuine, warm, and approachable, making it easy for them to open up, even in the toughest situations. With a background in working with women and young adult groups, coupled with her experience as a mom of four and growing up in a large family, she has a natural talent for connecting with others. Her goal is to create a space where clients feel safe, supported, and empowered to see their own self-worth.
Melissa’s approach to counseling considers each client’s physical, mental, emotional, and, when appropriate, spiritual needs throughout their journey. She utilizes various treatment modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Melissa particularly enjoys working with adolescents, as well as individuals such as first responders and adults who are navigating life changes, depression, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and self-harm.
Outside of her professional life, Melissa has been happily married for 29 years and is the proud mother of four children, aged 16 to 26. In her free time, she loves hiking, exploring new places, savoring foods from different cultures, catching a good movie, and spending quality time with her family. She looks forward to the opportunity to help you on your journey!