Profile / United States
Melissa Guarnaccia, LISW-CP, LCSW
North Carolina
Licensed social worker - Anxiety and family concerns
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Parenting workshops
About Melissa
Melissa Guarnaccia is a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with eleven years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, and helps people facing trauma, grief, bipolar symptoms, and struggles with self-esteem and eating. Sessions are practical and action-focused.
Her approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In sessions she looks at thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to find small, manageable changes. She uses exercises and real-world practice rather than long explanations.
Melissa has worked in hospital and school settings as well as private practice. That range has shaped how she structures sessions and plans follow-up steps. She also teaches Parenting with Love and Logic workshops for caregivers who want concrete strategies for child behavior.
Her background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The clinical licenses listed are SC LISW-CP and NC LCSW.
Outside of work she lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, two sons, and a pug named Mabel. She spends free time outdoors and traveling, which informs a practical, grounded style in sessions.
How Melissa uses CBT and ACT for online work
Melissa describes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a way to spot and test unhelpful thoughts and the behaviors that follow. That often means keeping brief records, trying a small behavior change, and checking what happens next. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing painful thoughts or feelings while choosing actions that matter, which helps when worry or avoidance gets in the way of goals.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will discuss CBT and ACT and help decide which fits a person’s goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as sessions progress.
The practical benefit of online sessions is fitting therapy into daily life. Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to schedule appointments around school or work, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time. Therapists and licensed professionals often use these options to keep progress steady while fitting sessions into a regular routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
North Carolina, South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating difficulties, anger, career questions, and bipolar-related issues.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions?
She uses CBT to identify unhelpful thoughts and the behaviors that follow. Sessions include practical exercises and at-home practice to test new ways of responding.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has eleven years of experience and has worked in hospital, school, and private practice settings.
What credentials does she hold and where does she practice?
Her listed credentials are LISW-CP and LCSW, with a practice location in North Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled and what about cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a 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.