Melissa Madriaga, LPC
Practical support for stress and life transitions
Details
| Name | Melissa Madriaga |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LPC |
| Based in | Wisconsin |
| Licensed in | Wisconsin |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 8 |
About Melissa
Melissa Madriaga is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in Wisconsin who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, eating concerns, and major life changes. She speaks plain, direct language and aims to make the first steps feel manageable for worried parents and individuals looking for steady support.
Melissa uses practical conversation and evidence-informed tools to help people name the problems that feel stuck. Sessions tend to look like focused talk, goal-setting, and learning small skills to try between meetings.
Background and approach
She draws on narrative ideas to help people reframe their stories and on cognitive behavioral methods to change patterns that keep problems alive. Her background includes eight years of mental health work and prior service in the United States Army Reserves. She earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and holds the LPC credential.
That mix of community work and clinical training informs a down-to-earth style in session. Melissa has worked in settings that included outreach to underserved groups and has experience with eating and food-related concerns, trauma and abuse, addictions, parenting strains, and relationship and communication problems. She also supports people facing life transitions, grief, guilt, and issues around body image and control.
Sessions are offered in English and are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Melissa’s practice uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and scheduling starts by completing a short matching questionnaire and picking a time that fits the client’s calendar.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Eating disorders, Self esteem among the things Melissa works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Melissa among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Melissa among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Melissa among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Melissa directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Melissa directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Melissa’s Approaches Work Online
Melissa draws on Narrative Therapy to help people tell a different story about themselves and their struggles, which can ease shame and open new options. Narrative work often helps with identity issues, body image, and feelings of isolation.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, empathy, and meeting people where they are. This approach supports people who need a steady, nonjudgmental space to sort through emotions and decisions.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will work with clients to identify goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan based on what feels most helpful. She frames therapy as teamwork where clients guide the pace and focus.
Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues and mimic in-person conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when someone has limited bandwidth or prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging make brief check-ins and more frequent contact possible between longer sessions. These options help fit therapy into busy family schedules, work breaks, or travel without losing continuity of care.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Melissa commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, eating and body image concerns, addictions, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, parenting strains, anger, and coping with life changes.
What is her general therapy style?
Melissa blends a client-centered approach with cognitive behavioral techniques and narrative ideas. Sessions focus on practical skills, changing unhelpful patterns, and reshaping personal stories.
What experience does she bring?
She has eight years of mental health experience and prior service in the United States Army Reserves, with background work that included outreach to underserved populations.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds the LPC credential and practices in Wisconsin.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does payment or cost work?
Sessions use a subscription model that varies with location and therapist availability, and the subscription can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session time based on the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Melissa are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Melissa where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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