Melissa Monahan , LPC

Melissa Monahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who brings practical, compassionate support to people facing substance use, mental health, and trauma-related challenges. She has worked extensively with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, many of whom also experience anxiety, depression, and traumatic life events that contribute to ongoing substance use. Her background centers on helping people navigate those complex, interconnected issues while focusing on the person rather than labels.

Melissa practices from a client-centered perspective, creating space for clients to guide the work and set priorities. She approaches sessions with a relaxed, nonjudgmental style and emphasizes collaboration so clients feel comfortable exploring what matters most to them. To help clients move toward solutions, she integrates motivational interviewing techniques that build readiness for change along with cognitive behavioral interventions that address troubling thoughts and patterns.

Her aim is to increase clients' confidence in identifying practical steps forward and to support them in developing skills that fit their lives. Melissa frames therapy as a partnership in which the client is the expert on their own experience and she offers tools and strategies to reach meaningful resolutions. Beginning therapy can feel intimidating, and she encourages people to take that first step when they are ready.

Therapeutic Approaches and Virtual Care

Melissa commonly uses client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing in her online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on the person s own goals and experiences, creating a supportive environment where the therapist follows the client s lead and helps them clarify what matters most. CBT offers practical tools to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behavioral habits, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mood challenges. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative method designed to strengthen a person s motivation to change by exploring their values and ambivalence in a nonconfrontational way.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melissa works collaboratively with each person to determine which techniques best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions over time so the work stays relevant and effective for the individual.

Online therapy with Melissa is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving clients flexibility to choose what fits their schedule and communication style. These options make it easier to attend sessions from home, manage care around other responsibilities, and maintain continuity of support even when life is busy.