Profile / United States
Melissa Geraci, LCSW
Arizona
LCSW - anxiety and addiction support
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Trauma-informed care
About Melissa
Melissa Geraci is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) practicing in Arizona with eight years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. She also focuses on communication problems, mood and personality disorders, and issues related to isolation and substance use.
Her sessions are practical and goal-oriented. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and trauma-focused work to address unhelpful thoughts and patterns. Conversations aim to identify specific habits and reactions, then try new ways of responding in everyday situations.
Melissa frames therapy as a step-by-step process. She helps people break larger problems into concrete skills and experiments they can test between sessions. Work might include tracking thoughts and feelings, practicing coping skills, and reviewing what did or did not help.
She pays attention to past experiences that continue to affect current behavior, including sexual assault or other abusive events. That work moves at a pace the person feels able to handle and often combines practical strategies with attention to emotional material.
Clients start by describing the main problem and what they hope to change. From there Melissa and the person set short-term goals and pick clear skills to practice. Sessions use a straightforward style focused on shifting thinking and behavior to reduce distress and improve daily functioning.
Approach to CBT, DBT, and trauma work online
Melissa uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and test different responses. CBT sessions typically focus on specific problems, tracking thoughts and behaviors, and practicing small behavioral experiments to change patterns that cause distress.She also incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are central concerns. DBT work emphasizes learning concrete skills for managing strong emotions, tolerating distress, and improving communication in heated moments.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist and client review presenting concerns, goals, and preferences to decide whether CBT, DBT skills, trauma-focused techniques, or a mix is the best fit. That plan can be adjusted as progress is tracked.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into work or family schedules, reduce travel time, and allow short check-ins when a full in-person visit would be difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt homework, skills practice, and symptom tracking to an online setting to keep work practical and goal focused.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Arizona
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address most often?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, plus related issues like communication problems and isolation.
How would her approach feel in a session?
Sessions are practical and structured, focusing on identifying thoughts and habits, learning skills, and trying small experiments between visits.
What is her clinical background?
She has eight years of clinical experience working as a licensed social worker in Arizona.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in Arizona.
Are sessions offered in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
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.