- Focus on thoughts
- Practical habit work
- Collaborative goal setting
About Melissa
Melissa Pierce is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Texas with over 20 years in the mental health field. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma, sleeping problems, and depression. Melissa aims to offer a respectful, compassionate space where people can talk about what matters most to them.
She adapts conversations and plans to each person’s needs instead of using one fixed approach. Sessions emphasize practical steps for everyday habits and ways of thinking, along with emotional support during hard moments. Melissa encourages small, steady changes that fit into daily life.
Her work draws on client-centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), existential ideas, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These approaches are used to address trauma, strong emotions, unhelpful thinking patterns, and relationship concerns. She talks through coping skills, emotion regulation, and problem-solving in clear terms.
Melissa highlights collaboration - she and the person in therapy set goals together and check progress over time. She supports people who are also navigating issues like abandonment, attachment questions, body image, caregiving stress, chronic illness, and coping after disasters. Her style is calm and straightforward, focused on making therapy manageable and relevant to everyday life.
To begin, Melissa asks people to share what they hope to change so sessions can be shaped around those goals.
She adapts conversations and plans to each person’s needs instead of using one fixed approach. Sessions emphasize practical steps for everyday habits and ways of thinking, along with emotional support during hard moments. Melissa encourages small, steady changes that fit into daily life.
Her work draws on client-centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), existential ideas, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These approaches are used to address trauma, strong emotions, unhelpful thinking patterns, and relationship concerns. She talks through coping skills, emotion regulation, and problem-solving in clear terms.
Melissa highlights collaboration - she and the person in therapy set goals together and check progress over time. She supports people who are also navigating issues like abandonment, attachment questions, body image, caregiving stress, chronic illness, and coping after disasters. Her style is calm and straightforward, focused on making therapy manageable and relevant to everyday life.
To begin, Melissa asks people to share what they hope to change so sessions can be shaped around those goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Texas
Languages
English
How Melissa Uses Different Approaches Online
Client-centered work puts the person’s goals at the center of each session, with the therapist following the person's lead and adjusting the conversation to fit their priorities. This helps when someone needs a space to voice concerns and make practical plans for daily life.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It teaches simple tools to spot unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clear communication. It can be useful for strong emotions, relationship struggles, and improving everyday coping skills.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and together decide which methods to try. That collaborative process guides which techniques are used and how quickly to change course.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking as options are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce the need to travel. Therapists help match the session structure to practical needs so therapy can work with everyday life.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Melissa help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, relationship and intimacy issues, sleeping problems, and depression. Additional areas include caregiver stress, body image, chronic illness, and related challenges.
How does Melissa approach therapy?
Her approach is collaborative and individualized, using client-centered techniques alongside CBT, DBT, existential ideas, and EMDR when appropriate. Sessions focus on thoughts, everyday habits, coping skills, and emotional regulation.
What is her background and experience?
Melissa has over 20 years of professional experience in mental health practice. She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and a non-judgmental atmosphere in her work.
Where is Melissa licensed and based?
She holds the LPC credential, licensed in Texas, and practices in that state.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to start therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.