Melissa Meengs, LMSW

Melissa Meengs is a licensed clinical social worker in Michigan with 20 years of experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Melissa aims to create a space where people feel comfortable talking about what matters to them. She emphasizes support and practical steps rather than judgement.

With two decades of practice, Melissa draws on several therapeutic approaches to help people manage difficult feelings and situations. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thoughts and change patterns that keep problems going. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are offered when emotional regulation and distress tolerance are needed, and mindfulness practices are used to build present-moment awareness.

Melissa also incorporates Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify what matters and find motivation for change. The Gottman Method informs her work around communication and relationship stress when those themes appear. Sessions are conversational and focused on small, doable steps that fit into daily life.

She has experience addressing abandonment and attachment concerns, caregiver stress, isolation and loneliness, midlife transitions, and trauma-related symptoms. Melissa helps clients talk through guilt, control issues, and the ripple effects of separation or divorce. Her approach balances practical strategies with emotional support.

People who choose Melissa often want a collaborator who listens and helps them make steady progress. She encourages realistic goals and notes that change usually happens through repeated practice and small adjustments.

Therapeutic approaches and online therapy with Melissa

Melissa draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep them stuck. CBT is practical and teaches skills you can use between sessions to reduce anxiety or low mood.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT techniques can be useful when emotions feel overwhelming or when relationships trigger intense reactions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Melissa will listen to your goals and preferences and suggest which methods might fit best. The decision is collaborative and can be adjusted as your needs change.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know how she is meeting with clients. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find video or phone sessions help them keep therapy consistent while juggling caregiving, work, or other commitments.