- Warm relational focus
- Skills for emotion regulation
- Goal oriented support
About Melissa
Melissa Colton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 27 years of experience. She centers her work on the therapeutic relationship and on helping people make real changes when they are ready. Her style is warm and direct, and she often uses client-centered listening to guide each conversation.
Melissa mixes practical tools with a broad, human view of problems. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy and mindfulness practices to teach skills for managing strong emotions and staying present.
Her areas of focus include stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma and abuse, addiction, ADHD, and issues around self-esteem and shame. She also supports people facing relationship strain, grief, parenting strain, career transitions, and questions about life purpose. Melissa names LGBT concerns and intimacy-related issues among her practice interests.
Clinically she values a holistic perspective that includes body, mind, heart, and spirit. She emphasizes that change often begins when the pain of staying the same exceeds the fear of change. In sessions she helps people notice strengths gained from hardship and use those strengths to move forward.
Her approach is collaborative. She helps clients identify goals, try new strategies, and practice skills between sessions. People who want supportive, goal-focused work with an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship may find her style helpful.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a strong relationship. Online sessions offer a space to be heard, reflect on goals, and work at your own pace. This approach helps when someone needs steady support and a therapist who follows their lead.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. In online work this often looks like setting small homework tasks, tracking patterns between sessions, and reviewing progress together. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Online sessions can introduce these skills and help people practice them in day-to-day life.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will collaborate with each person to identify goals and try methods that fit those goals and preferences. If an approach needs adjustment, it can be modified as therapy progresses.
The profile notes telehealth experience but does not list all session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can help choose the pace and structure that work best for everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
Melissa works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, ADHD, and mood disorders. She also focuses on self-esteem, shame, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, career transitions, and life purpose.
What is the therapist's general approach or style?
She practices a client-centered approach that emphasizes the relationship between therapist and client. She blends that with practical techniques from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to help people change thoughts, learn skills, and manage emotions.
How much experience does the therapist have?
She brings 27 years of experience in mental health care. That background includes long-term clinical work and a focus on skills-based interventions alongside relational support.
What credentials and location are listed for the therapist?
The therapist is listed as an LMHC and practices in Florida. The credential appears as LMHC in the profile information.
Which languages are supported and are international clients seen?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography references telehealth services, but session formats were not fully specified here. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.