Profile / United States
Melissa McDonald Wertz, LCSW, CSW
Colorado
LCSW - Stress and trauma focused
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness techniques
- Motivational interviewing
About Melissa
Melissa McDonald Wertz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Colorado with 10 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, and other life changes.
She uses practical approaches that focus on thoughts, behaviors, and skills. Sessions are interactive and goal-oriented. Melissa helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, try different responses, and practice new habits between meetings.
Her background includes work as both a therapist and a case manager. That experience informs a straightforward approach to problem solving and planning. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness strategies, motivational interviewing, solution-focused methods, and trauma-focused work as needed.
In sessions she emphasizes collaborative planning and short-term, task-focused work when appropriate. Clients can expect to identify specific goals and steps to work on between sessions. Melissa also addresses longer-term concerns and complex situations when those come up.
She accepts clients from Colorado and also works with international clients in English. Her credential list includes LCSW and CSW, with the LCSW held in Colorado. Before booking, readers should confirm current session options and scheduling details through the site's booking flow.
How Melissa uses CBT and related methods online
Melissa often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify patterns of thinking and behavior that maintain stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. CBT focuses on concrete steps - recognizing unhelpful thoughts, testing them, and practicing alternative responses - which can be tracked between sessions.She also uses Mindfulness Therapy to build present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity. Mindfulness exercises tend to be brief and practice-based, useful for managing anxiety and improving sleep. Motivational Interviewing helps when people feel stuck or ambivalent about change; it uses focused conversation to clarify goals and strengthen motivation.
Choosing the right combination of approaches is part of early work together. She will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals and preferences, and adjust the plan as progress is made.
The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Talk with the therapist during the matching questionnaire about session length, scheduling, and how you prefer to work so arrangements fit everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Colorado
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, and related concerns such as eating, sleeping, parenting, anger, self esteem, career challenges, bipolar, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach?
She uses practical, interactive methods that focus on thoughts, behaviors, and skills. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and trauma-focused techniques inform her work.
How much experience does she have?
She has 10 years of experience working as a therapist and case manager.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LCSW and CSW credentials and practices in Colorado as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Which languages and international options are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select 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.