- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Blended family issues
About Melissa
Melissa Averett is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana with 14 years of experience. She earned a master’s degree in education counseling and has worked in both residential and outpatient settings. Her practice focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, coping with life changes, addictions, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, parenting, anger, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.
She has four years of experience in a residential program supporting women in recovery from addiction. She then spent nine years providing outpatient counseling to adults across a broad range of struggles and mental illness. That combination gives her experience with both crisis-focused work and ongoing symptom management.
Melissa uses Client-Centered Therapy to build rapport and help people define their goals. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and cognitive restructuring to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Sessions include practical skill teaching rather than only talk.
Clients can expect work on boundaries, self-esteem, choices and consequences, and coping skills. She also teaches assertive communication techniques meant to improve everyday interactions. Topics addressed include blended family issues, divorce and separation, family of origin concerns, and forgiveness.
Her approach is direct and skill-focused. She helps people notice thoughts that keep them stuck and then practices alternative responses. The focus is on small, usable changes that fit into busy lives rather than abstract theory.
How Melissa applies therapy approaches online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and helping the client set their own goals. In this approach the therapist reflects understanding, asks about what matters most, and supports clients in naming clear next steps. It is helpful for people who need someone to help them prioritize concerns and decide where to begin.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and cognitive restructuring target the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. CBT involves noticing unhelpful thoughts, testing them, and practicing different responses. This approach is commonly used for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, and relationship patterns that repeat.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will review needs, goals, and preferences with each person and suggest whether more Client-Centered work or CBT techniques make sense. That decision is collaborative and can shift over time as goals change.
Confirm the specific session formats available before booking, as options can differ by location and scheduling. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also allow working on exercises or homework between meetings so skills are practised in everyday situations.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Louisiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, parenting, anger, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and related issues.
How does she approach therapy?
She uses Client-Centered Therapy to build rapport and clarify goals. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and teach coping skills.
What is her background and experience?
She has 14 years of clinical experience, including four years in a residential program supporting women in recovery from addiction and nine years of outpatient counseling with adults.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Louisiana and practices in that state.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking to be sure of available formats for your area and needs.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.