Profile / United States
Melissa Nelson, LMHC
Florida
LMHC in Florida - stress and identity concerns
See online therapy options- CBT informed
- Motivational interviewing
- Solution-focused goals
About Melissa
Melissa Nelson is a Florida-licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 12 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and challenges related to identity and life changes. Sessions address moods, attention difficulties, addiction concerns, and issues like body image and self-esteem.
Melissa focuses on clear, practical steps people can try between sessions. She listens for unhelpful thinking and patterns, then helps people test different ways of responding. Conversations are direct and goal-oriented, with concrete strategies for coping and behavior change.
Her work pays attention to identity and culture. She supports people with LGBT and gender-related concerns and works with issues such as gender dysphoria and HIV/AIDS in a way that recognizes lived experience. She also assists people managing chronic pain, illness, or disability alongside mental health symptoms.
Melissa uses a mix of approaches that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered work, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques. That means sessions can combine thought-focused interventions, collaborative listening, and brief goal-setting depending on what a person needs most.
Practical matters are part of the process. She helps people build coping plans for sleep, anger, impulsivity, and compulsive behaviors, and offers tools for improving communication and decision-making. People who prefer structured, skills-based work tend to find her approach useful.
How CBT and related approaches are used in online sessions
Melissa commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and test unhelpful thoughts and to practice different behaviors. CBT can be useful for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, and patterns of avoidance by turning broad concerns into concrete, testable steps.She also uses client-centered techniques to focus on listening and understanding a person's experiences, and motivational interviewing to help people clarify goals and strengthen motivation for change. Client-centered work supports open discussion about identity and values, while motivational interviewing helps when people feel unsure about making changes.
Choosing an approach is collaborative. She will review goals and preferences with each person and adjust methods as needed rather than rely on a single technique. This lets sessions stay practical and focused on what the person wants to accomplish.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit regular check-ins into a busy week, allow shorter phone or video check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so people can use therapy alongside work or family commitments.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, mood disorders including bipolar, and related concerns such as body image and sleep problems.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and structured. She combines thought-focused work with goal-setting and collaborative conversation to build coping strategies and behavior changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 12 years of experience as a practicing clinician working with a range of mood, identity, and behavioral concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Florida LMHC, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and she practices in Florida.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Start by selecting 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.