Dr. Melissa Chovan , LCPC, LPC

Dr. Melissa Chovan is an individual and family therapist with 19 years of experience in the field and 13 years practicing as a therapist. She brings a broad clinical background working with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, post-traumatic stress, parenting challenges, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma. She also has experience with gender dysphoria and related concerns.

Her professional work spans domestic violence and sexual assault services, programs for at-risk youth including alternative education and residential settings, child protective services cases, community mental health, state prison services, private practice, and both online and in-person teaching. She is pursuing a deeper focus on trauma and has trained in Brainspotting, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Accelerated Response Therapy, and is working toward certification in all three approaches. Those modalities are part of a broader toolkit that also includes cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, reality therapy, family systems techniques, and dialectical behavior therapy.

Her style is warm, respectful, and interactive, with an emphasis on tailoring care to each person and family rather than using a one-size-fits-all model. She values hope, empowerment, a strong therapeutic relationship, and education as central elements of effective work. She holds LCPC and LPC credentials - LCPC meaning Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and LPC meaning Licensed Professional Counselor - reflecting licensed training in professional counseling.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Melissa Chovan uses several evidence-informed approaches to guide online therapy. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building a strong therapeutic relationship so clients feel understood and can explore goals at their own pace - it is helpful for relationship issues, life transitions, and personal growth. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, involves identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing new skills to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness and can be useful for intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and impulsive behaviors.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Chovan assesses each client's needs, goals, and preferences and works with them to tailor methods that fit their situation rather than applying a single technique to every case.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can occur via video calls, phone conversations, live chat, or text-based messaging - so clients can access care around work, family, and daily commitments. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to fit therapy into a busy life while working with licensed professionals and therapists trained in these approaches.