- Client-Centered Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Career and school planning
About Melissa
Melissa Upton is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi with 14 years of counseling experience. She has a Master of Science and Specialist's degree in School Counseling from Mississippi State University and a long history working in public schools. Her listed concerns include stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, anger, parenting, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and blended family issues.
She spent much of her career as a school counselor, supporting adolescents with anger management, coping skills, anxiety, relationship concerns, and academic and career planning. That background shaped a practical approach to everyday problems and life transitions. She now focuses on one-on-one counseling outside the school setting.
Her stated approaches are Client-Centered Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy. Sessions emphasize the client’s goals and building steps that can be tried between meetings. Conversations are intended to be direct and actionable, with attention to what is most useful in daily life.
Melissa also uses career planning tools such as the RIASEC model and John Holland's career inventory when career or academic questions are part of the work. She has experience addressing issues like divorce and separation, blended family issues, communication problems, control issues, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and fatherhood issues.
People can expect a counselor who draws on school-based experience and practical methods. The work typically looks like identifying a problem, setting small goals, and testing strategies over time. Sessions aim to help people manage stress, improve relationships, and handle life changes more effectively.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s own goals. The therapist listens and reflects back what matters to the client, then helps identify steps to move forward. This approach can help when someone needs a clearer picture of priorities and values.Solution-Focused Therapy looks at practical changes and short-term goals. The work is about small experiments and what can be done differently this week. It is useful for addressing stress, communication problems, and parenting or blended household challenges where concrete adjustments matter.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences with the client and adjust methods as needed. That collaboration helps pick techniques that fit the person’s situation and pace.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available formats before booking. In general, online counseling can make it easier to fit sessions into a weekday break or a home routine, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Licensed professionals can adapt client-centered and solution-focused work to remote conversations by focusing on clear goals and practical steps that carry into daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Mississippi
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She lists stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and anger issues, parenting concerns, ADHD, trauma and abuse, and blended family issues among her focus areas.
What is her typical approach in sessions?
She works from a client-centered stance and uses solution-focused techniques to set practical steps. The emphasis is on goals and actions you can try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of counseling experience and 25 years working in the public school system in Mississippi, mainly supporting adolescents.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Mississippi with a Master of Science and Specialist's degree in School Counseling from Mississippi State University.
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not accepted at this time.
What session formats does she offer?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling 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.