- Years in practice
- 5
- Credentials
- MD, LCPC, LPC
- Licensed in
- Maryland, Virginia
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Parenting issues
About Melissa
Melissa Simonson, MD, LCPC, LPC, brings five years of clinical counseling experience and a background in education to her work with parents and adults. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and concerns around parenting and self-esteem. Her approach is practical and direct, with an emphasis on listening and adapting to each person's needs.
Before becoming a counselor, she spent 15 years as a teacher and school administrator.
Background and approach
That experience shaped how she explains ideas and supports people through change. She uses straightforward language and concrete steps rather than jargon. Sessions focus on building skills and small changes that fit into busy lives.
She talks through strategies for managing mood, reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and improving self-love and confidence. Parenting concerns are addressed with real-world tools for everyday challenges. Melissa aims to create a respectful and sensitive space for conversation.
She collaborates on goals and tailors a plan to each person's situation. The work often combines short-term strategies with longer term skill building. Her practice is based in Maryland and she holds both MD and counseling credentials listed as MD, LCPC, LPC.
She offers options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Getting started begins with a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session.
What Melissa works with
Everything Melissa lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Melissa helps people with.
Approaches and online options for parenting and mood
Melissa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and recovery. One common approach emphasizes teaching coping skills for anxiety and stress, such as breathing, grounding, and activity planning to reduce day-to-day overwhelm. This helps people regain control and improve functioning during busy family life.Another approach centers on processing trauma and post-traumatic stress in manageable steps, using guided conversation and stabilization strategies to reduce symptoms and improve safety in daily routines. That work aims to help people feel steadier and more able to handle triggers and reminders.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. Together you will try methods that match your needs and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online therapy offers practical advantages for busy parents and adults. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when scheduling permits. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share updates between sessions or fit care into a break at work. These options provide flexibility so therapy can fit into everyday life.
Questions people ask about Melissa
What concerns does she address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, and self-esteem issues.
How does she approach therapy?
She uses a practical, listening-first approach that focuses on clear steps and strategies tailored to each person's needs.
What is her professional background?
Melissa has five years of clinical counseling experience and previously worked 15 years as a teacher and school administrator.
What credentials and location are listed?
Her credentials are MD, LCPC, LPC and she is based in Maryland.
Which languages are supported and can she work internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session according to therapist availability.
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