- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and EMDR
- CBT and DBT skills
About Melissa
Melissa Pierce is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in Texas with 20 years of work in mental health. She sees people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep troubles, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship or intimacy-related issues, and concerns related to LGBT identity. She also lists focus areas such as abandonment, attachment and personality concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness, body image, and coping after disasters.
Her practical approach centers on listening first. Sessions begin with clear goals the client wants to address. Conversations are direct and aim to identify patterns that keep problems in place. She uses familiar therapeutic tools and helps clients try changes between sessions.
Melissa draws from client-centered work to keep the sessions focused on the person in front of her. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to map thoughts and behaviors, and dialectical behavior skills to handle intense emotions. For people with trauma, she includes EMDR where appropriate and uses existential ideas to talk about meaning and choice.
Over two decades she has worked across a range of concerns, including chronic pain, cancer-related stress, codependency, communication problems, and commitment fears. Her practice frequently addresses anger, control issues, and the fallout of attachment wounds.
Sessions move at a steady pace and focus on what can change now. Clients can expect practical strategies, gentle skill building, and direct discussion of obstacles. The goal is clearer options and more workable next steps for life after major change.
How Melissa uses therapeutic approaches in online work
Melissa often blends client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy. Client-centered work means the conversation is guided by the client's concerns and personal goals. It helps when someone needs a space to organize thoughts and make choices. CBT looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete techniques for changing unhelpful patterns.She also uses dialectical behavior therapy skills to support emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Those skills are practical tools for managing intense feelings, handling conflicts, and improving communication. For people with trauma, EMDR may be introduced to address disturbing memories when it fits the person's needs.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will review the client's history, current concerns, and what feels most useful, and then suggest ways to proceed. That choice is made together and can be adjusted as therapy moves forward.
Session formats should be confirmed before booking since the biography does not list specific online options. Ask about the available session types when you sign up. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so work or caregiving responsibilities are easier to manage.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and LGBT concerns, plus a range of related issues such as caregiver stress and chronic illness.
How would she approach feeling stuck or unsure about life direction?
She listens to what matters to the client, then uses conversational work and practical techniques to identify patterns and options. The focus is on clear goals and steps the client can try between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of experience in mental health and has worked with a wide variety of concerns including trauma, addiction, chronic health issues, and relationship difficulties.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LPC, which stands for Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed in Texas and practicing there.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States schedule with her?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are provided to people located in Texas.
How are sessions paid for and how much do they cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the sign-up process.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.