- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction support
- CBT and mindfulness
About Melissa
Melissa Benson is a Florida-licensed mental health counselor with 24 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addiction concerns, and major life changes, and she helps them find practical ways to move forward.
She focuses on straightforward conversation and practical steps. Sessions look at current problems, what has helped before, and what could help now. She adapts the pace to the person sitting across from her and aims to make each meeting useful and manageable.
Her approach draws on client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness. That means sessions can include exploring thoughts and behaviors, practicing brief skills in the session, and trying small experiments between meetings. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused ideas are also part of her toolkit for people working on change or recovery.
Melissa has worked across clinical settings during a long career and brings that experience to everyday concerns like sleep, eating, parenting stress, and relationship strain. She also addresses identity-related issues, bipolar mood concerns, and trauma and abuse when people bring those topics into sessions.
She provides clear explanations of methods and encourages collaborative planning so clients know what to expect. If someone wants help with coping strategies, improving communication, or managing intense emotions, she offers steady, practical support and concrete steps to try.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s lead. Online sessions using this approach emphasize clear, reflective conversation and collaborative planning for next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches simple skills to test and change unhelpful patterns; that work often includes short exercises and homework that can fit into daily life. Mindfulness Therapy brings attention and grounding practices into sessions and gives clients brief exercises to use between meetings for stress and anxiety management.Finding the right approach is part of the process. Melissa will work with each person to decide which methods feel most useful given their goals, needs, and preferences. She treats the choice of approach as collaborative and will adjust plans based on how a client responds over time.
Specific session formats are not listed here, so confirm options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, cut travel time, or choose shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also let people practice skills in their usual environment and bring real-life situations into conversation, which can make skill rehearsal and problem-solving more practical.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
Florida, Utah
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, and coping with life changes among other issues. The list also includes sleep and eating problems and relationship or communication difficulties.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses practical conversation focused on current problems and small, useful steps. Sessions mix listening with skill practice and collaborative planning.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 24 years of professional experience working in mental health settings and community care.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LMHC and LCMHC credentials and is licensed in Florida.
Which languages are offered and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not accepted at this time.
What session formats are available?
Current session formats are not specified here. Confirm the available formats before booking to be sure they meet your needs.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.