- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Exposure and Response Prevention
- Life purpose and midlife
About Melanie
Melanie McClellan is a Virginia LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with eight years of practice helping adults who feel stuck by anxiety, OCD, grief, and big life changes. She works with people who seem to be functioning outwardly but feel worn down by worry, intrusive thoughts, or ongoing stress. Melanie also supports clients facing compassion fatigue, workplace strain, and questions about life purpose.
She commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) when addressing anxiety and obsessive-compulsive patterns. In sessions she focuses on concrete strategies that reduce overwhelm, such as learning to notice unhelpful thoughts, testing beliefs through small experiments, and practicing gradual exposure to feared situations. These are described plainly and practiced in session, not as abstract ideas.
Melanie helps people navigate grief, divorce and separation, caregiver burden, guilt, shame, and social anxiety. She also supports those working through isolation or midlife transitions who want clearer direction about what matters next. Conversations are practical and aim to leave people with tools they can use between meetings.
Her approach emphasizes collaboration: clients and Melanie set goals together and track progress over time. She offers straightforward explanations of techniques and checks in about how each method is working. The focus is on reducing symptoms that limit daily life and on identifying steps toward a more manageable routine.
Sessions are conducted in English and are intended for adults. Melanie does not accept international clients. To begin the process she asks prospective clients to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online options button.
Evidence-based techniques and how they work online
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a form of therapy that involves facing feared situations or thoughts in a controlled way and then practicing not following through with compulsive responses. It is commonly used for OCD and for reducing anxiety around intrusive thoughts by building tolerance through repeated practice.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them with small behavioral experiments. It helps people break cycles of worry and avoidance by practicing new ways of responding to stress and tracking what changes over time.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques in early sessions, and adjust the plan based on what feels most useful. Clients work together with the therapist to set goals and review progress so methods can be refined as needed.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for quicker check-ins between in-person commitments. Different formats suit different needs - for example, shorter sessions can be used for focused skill practice, and video sessions can help with guided exposure practice when visual cues matter. Confirm current session options when scheduling to match practical needs.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, OCD, grief, compassion fatigue, and life changes including divorce and midlife questions.
How does she approach feeling stuck?
She uses clear, evidence-based techniques like CBT and ERP to reduce intrusive thoughts and overwhelm and to practice new responses.
How much experience does she have?
She has eight years of clinical experience working with adults on anxiety, OCD, and transitions.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Virginia LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) practicing from Virginia.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.