Profile / United States
Melissa Brierley, LCSW
New York
Licensed clinical social worker - stress and anxiety
See online therapy options- CBT focus
- DBT skills
- Trauma-informed care
About Melissa
Melissa Brierley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York with 10 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, career difficulties, and life changes. She also addresses body image, communication problems, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, loneliness, post-traumatic stress, women's issues, and workplace concerns.
She helps people notice patterns that make things harder and then try different responses. Sessions focus on practical steps and clear goals. Melissa leans on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to manage strong emotions.
Her approach combines talking about current problems with attention to how past experiences affect present behavior. That means looking at recurring relationship patterns and reactions that keep problems going. Melissa uses trauma-focused ideas when work on past hurt is needed, while psychodynamic elements help make sense of deeper themes that repeat over time.
In sessions she typically breaks larger concerns into smaller tasks. She guides people through exercises and homework that build new skills between meetings. Conversations aim to be direct and concrete so people can notice change quickly.
She asks clients to set clear goals and checks progress along the way. The focus is on what someone can do differently day to day to reduce distress and handle challenges more effectively.
How Melissa applies therapies online
Melissa commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people recognize thoughts and behaviors that increase stress and anxiety. CBT sessions focus on practical exercises, testing beliefs, and setting small, doable goals to change daily habits.She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. DBT skills are useful for managing intense feelings and reducing impulsive reactions, and they can be practiced between sessions.
Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will work with each person to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. Together they review progress and adjust techniques as needed so work in sessions connects to real life.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the exact online options before booking. The platform intake will show how meetings are arranged. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so sessions can happen during a lunch break or between errands.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, career struggles, and coping with life changes. She also addresses body image, communication problems, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, isolation, post-traumatic stress, women's issues, and workplace problems.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to spot unhelpful thoughts and habits and to build different responses. Sessions include exercises and practice to test new ways of thinking and behaving.
What is her background and experience?
She has 10 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. Her practice combines CBT, DBT, psychodynamic ideas, and trauma-focused approaches.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in New York. Her practice is based in New York.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. The site will show available choices when you begin the intake process.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Check the platform details for precise pricing tied to your region.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. That process connects you to her intake steps and booking.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.