Melissa Cruz

I became a psychotherapist to facilitate the healing and transformation that can only happen in healthy relationships. My approach to therapy is collaborative and you-centered; I strive to create a space that invites exploration and curiosity, rather than criticism and shame. I provide compassionate and respectful depth-based psychotherapy to individuals ages 14+, taking particular pleasure in working with those who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ who struggle with perfectionism and/or people pleasing tendencies.

I seek to understand you as a unique, complex individual operating within many complex systems. My eclectic style is warm and inviting; you'll probably find yourself at ease talking with me. Many of my clients also tell me that they appreciate the thought-provoking questions that I ask, as it helps them to consider different angles of their concerns, helping them to sharpen the lens of their own perspective and values.

Many of my clients struggle in relationships with themselves, family, partners, events from their past, or with certain habits. Some feel afraid to let those closest to them know about their struggles for fear of rejection, abandonment, or criticism. I find that often, at the core of these struggles is the basic human need to be understood & accepted. With therapy, they begin to see themselves and others with less shame, anger, guilt, & hopelessness, and in a more balanced & compassionate light.