About Melissa
Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) in Ohio with eight years of clinical experience. She helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, mood shifts, and low self-esteem. Her approach aims to be respectful and compassionate from the first conversation.
She adapts sessions to each person’s needs and priorities. That means discussing immediate concerns, setting clear goals, and choosing tools that fit daily life. Conversations are practical and focused on what will make daily functioning better.
How Melissa works
Melissa uses a mix of methods that include client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior strategies, EMDR, and mindfulness. She draws from these to help manage symptoms, reduce harmful behaviors, and build healthier routines. Sessions often involve learning skills, testing small changes, and noticing what works.
Her experience includes supporting people coping with trauma and first responder or veteran-related stress, as well as those facing gambling or substance addiction. She also addresses grief, shame, impulsivity, and dissociation. The aim is to reduce distress and increase the ability to handle daily pressures.
Therapy with Melissa is collaborative. She invites clients to shape the plan and checks in about progress. People looking for straightforward, skills-based work alongside empathic listening may find her style a good match.
Melissa lists 8 ways of working on the entry:
What Melissa works with
The areas below are the ones Melissa selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Codependency
- Control issues
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- First responder issues
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Training and background
| Register | LISW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 8 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Ohio |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Practical approaches for online mental health care
Client-centered therapy focuses on the person in the room. The therapist listens closely, reflects what is said, and follows the client’s lead to build trust and clarify goals. This approach helps when someone needs a safe space to sort through feelings and decide what matters most.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. Sessions teach specific techniques to challenge unhelpful thinking and to change actions that increase stress or depression. CBT is often used for anxiety, mood concerns, and managing compulsive behaviors.
Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, provides concrete skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and reducing impulsive acts. It emphasizes balancing acceptance with change and is useful when strong reactions or self-harm risk are present.
Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit the person’s needs, and adjust the plan over time. Clients are encouraged to give feedback so the work stays relevant and effective.
Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different preferences and schedules. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a break from work. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or people who prefer typing. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to maintain alongside daily responsibilities.
Start online instead of waiting
Our partner service asks a few questions about what you are looking for and matches you with a therapist for sessions from home.
Book with MelissaWe will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Common questions
What concerns does Melissa commonly address?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What background and experience does she bring?
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
Which languages are sessions offered in and are international clients accepted?
In what session formats does she work online?
How is cost and billing handled?
What are the steps to begin therapy?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. Entries are not assessed or endorsed by this directory.
Other entries for stress, anxiety
Supportive LCSW helping people build strength and clarity
Practical, trauma-aware therapy for everyday life
Practical, relational therapy for life transitions