- Stress and anxiety
- CBT methods
- Solution focused
About Melissa
Melissa Ford is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in South Carolina with three years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and low self-esteem. Her profile also notes support for people dealing with life changes, addictions, relationship or career concerns, and depression.
Melissa focuses on clear, goal-oriented conversations. She uses practical methods to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try new coping skills. Sessions are described as respectful and sensitive, and she adapts her approach to each person's situation.
In practice she often combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques with Solution-Focused Therapy ideas. That means she may help a person identify thinking patterns that increase distress, test small behavioral changes, and set concrete short-term goals. She also pays attention to communication problems, caregiver stress, and issues around guilt, shame, forgiveness, and self-love.
People who want help sorting out what matters after a life shift may find her approach useful. She aims to help clients break concerns into manageable steps and track progress. The work is conversational and action-oriented, with an emphasis on practical changes rather than abstract theory.
Melissa offers services in English and practices in South Carolina. Her credential is LPC. To begin, prospective clients are asked to use the site's matching and scheduling flow to set up an initial session.
How Melissa applies CBT and solution-focused work online
Melissa commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in her online work. CBT involves identifying thinking patterns that increase worry or low mood, testing those thoughts, and trying new behaviors to reduce symptoms. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small, practical steps and clear goals a person can try between sessions to build momentum and notice change.Deciding which approach to use is a shared task. Melissa will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they select methods and adjust them as progress is tracked, so the plan reflects the client's needs rather than a fixed protocol.
The site's booking flow describes how to get started, but please confirm the current session options before scheduling. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. Different formats have different practical benefits such as reduced bandwidth needs or a quicker transition from work to a session, so Melissa will discuss which option best fits everyday life and schedules.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, self-esteem, coping with life changes, addictions, relationship and career concerns, and depression.
How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She uses practical conversations that identify unhelpful thinking and small behavioral steps. The focus is on setting short-term goals and tracking progress.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has three years of professional work experience as a counselor in clinical settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in South Carolina and practices there.
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.