- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression support
About Melissa
Melissa Wood is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, practicing in Florida with 11 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and depression, and helps with coping through life changes. Melissa lists social anxiety and phobia among her focus areas.
Her approach is straightforward and respectful. She listens to what is most pressing and helps people name what is getting in the way. Sessions focus on practical steps a person can try between meetings, not only talk. Melissa adjusts the conversation to fit each person's situation.
Melissa has worked across many settings over more than a decade. That time has given her experience with relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting strain, and caregiver stress. She also addresses attachment issues, communication problems, control issues, and problems related to divorce and separation.
She supports people coping with guilt, shame, isolation, and mood concerns, including post-traumatic stress and ADHD-related struggles. Melissa discusses options for managing low self-esteem and improving daily functioning. The emphasis is on clear strategies and steady progress rather than quick fixes.
People who prefer plain language and direct steps may find this approach helpful. Melissa asks about goals early and works with each person to set realistic next steps. To begin, she will review what brought someone to therapy and outline sensible first actions.
Approaches and how online sessions fit
Melissa works with evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on concrete skills and symptom reduction. One common approach is skills-based work that teaches practical tools for managing anxiety and stress, such as breathing, grounding, and stepwise exposure to difficult situations. These tools are useful for someone dealing with social anxiety or phobic reactions because they give clear actions to practice.Another approach emphasizes processing difficult experiences related to trauma and loss. This work helps people make sense of distressing events and reduce the intensity of upsetting memories or emotions through structured conversation and gradual coping strategies. That approach often pairs well with skill practice so people get both relief and tools for daily life.
Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Melissa will collaborate with each person to identify goals and try methods that match those goals and preferences. She checks in regularly and adjusts plans based on what helps most.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when helpful, and remove travel time. For some people a phone session may be simpler when video is difficult, while others prefer a video meeting to use nonverbal cues. Discussing practical preferences is part of the first steps.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, coping with life changes, and related issues such as social anxiety and phobia.
What is her style in sessions?
She uses plain language and practical steps, focusing on what is most pressing and concrete actions to try between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
Melissa has 11 years of professional experience working in mental health settings.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, licensed in Florida and practices there.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are provided to people located within the applicable jurisdiction.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.