- Anxiety and panic
- Practical coping skills
- Relationship support
About Melissa
Melissa Reyerson-Slifer is a licensed social worker who helps people facing anxiety, stress, and relationship strain. She uses straightforward, respectful conversation to help clients feel heard and to find practical steps forward. Melissa writes that seeking help takes courage, and she aims to support people through that first step and beyond.
She practices with a focus on anxiety disorders including panic disorder and panic attacks, as well as depression, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem concerns. Melissa also addresses grief, anger, bipolar mood concerns, and intimacy-related issues. Her work includes attention to obsessive thoughts and compulsions, dissociation, hoarding, phobias, and social anxiety.
Her approach blends Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy, and she also draws on Motivational Interviewing and the Gottman Method for relationship work. In sessions she listens first, then helps people set small, achievable goals and practice skills between meetings. The tone is collaborative and practical.
Melissa holds the credential LISW, which indicates a licensed independent social worker, and LCSW, licensed clinical social worker. She has five years of clinical therapy experience and additional years earlier in the mental health field. She practices in California and conducts sessions in English.
If you think this might be a fit, you can begin by using the site Start Therapy flow to match and schedule. The therapist asks people to complete a short questionnaire so scheduling aligns with both needs and availability.
How Melissa’s approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening and responding to each person’s experience, helping them feel understood and guiding the conversation toward the goals they name. This approach is useful when someone needs a space to sort through feelings and make decisions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, panic, and mood concerns and includes practical exercises to practice between sessions.
Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and grounding skills to reduce reactivity and increase calm. These practices can help with stress, panic symptoms, and managing strong emotions.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will work with each person to pick methods that fit their goals and preferences, and she adjusts plans as progress and needs evolve.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, avoid travel time, and keep check-ins brief when needed. It also lets people practice skills in everyday settings and bring real-life situations into conversation with the therapist.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Iowa, California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Melissa commonly address?
Melissa focuses on anxiety and stress, including panic disorder and panic attacks, as well as relationship issues, trauma and abuse, depression, and self-esteem difficulties.
What is her therapeutic approach and style?
She combines Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness techniques, aiming to listen first and then offer practical steps and homework between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has five years of direct therapy experience plus additional prior work in the mental health field, which informs her clinical work and approach.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LISW and LCSW credentials and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
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 sessions paid for and what does cost depend on?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin working together?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.