About Melissa
Melissa McHenry welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or big life changes. She is a licensed counselor with 23 years of professional experience and speaks English. Melissa aims to create a respectful, sensitive space where people can begin to sort through difficult feelings.
She helps people who are coping with trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, grief, anger, and challenges to self-esteem. She also supports those managing bipolar symptoms, career stress, and LGBT-related concerns.
How Melissa works
Her approach is practical and individualized - she adapts conversations and plans to fit each persons needs. Melissa holds a master's degree in adult psychology and a master's degree in child psychology. Her background includes work with depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, self-injurious behavior, and domestic violence.
That experience shapes how she structures early sessions and safety planning when needed. In sessions she focuses on clear goals and step-by-step progress. She listens for what matters most and helps set small, manageable changes people can try between meetings.
People who are anxious about starting therapy often find that talking about next steps makes things feel more doable. Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, and Melissa acknowledges that courage. She asks about goals up front and partners with each person to build a plan that fits their life and priorities.
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.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- LGBT
- Self esteem
Training and background
| Registers | LPC, LCPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 23 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Melissa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques focused on practical change and safety. One common approach involves structuring sessions around clear goals and coping skills - this helps people manage anxiety, mood swings, and everyday stress by trying concrete strategies between meetings. Another approach emphasizes trauma-informed care, which means recognizing how past harm affects current reactions and building gradual steps to feel more in control and less triggered.Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will ask about current needs, personal history, and what feels manageable, then tailor methods that match goals and comfort. Clients and the therapist review progress and adjust the plan together as things change.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions are good for face-to-face interaction and more in-depth work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging offer quick ways to share updates and get support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving schedules and to maintain continuity when life gets busy.
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Common questions
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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.
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