Melisa Ruelas

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in adolescents, individuals, couples & family therapy. I have maintained my private practice for over 10 years. I received my BS in Child and Adolescent Development from Cal State University Fullerton and my MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. I see therapy as a way of helping clients cultivate genuine compassion for themselves. My focus balances an exploration of the client’s past strengths & present goals.

My clinical experiences thus far have allowed me to work with a multitude of clients. Mental health issues that include anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, grief, Bipolar, at-risk youth, life stages, Infidelity, marital conflict, & family conflict. Modalities of choice include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Solution Focused. I am very eclectic in my behavioral approach with clients to align with what works best for them.

I like to tell my clients, " The best outcome of therapy would not be to change any part of self, but rather get to know yourself better." I find it very rewarding to support clients in their journey to being a better version of themselves. I work collaboratively with clients to help understand themselves better to reduce unwanted symptoms and to prevent them from reoccurring.