Melissa Estrada-Ruiz

Welcome, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I have been working in the field of mental health for over 8 years. I enjoy working with patience in achieving their mental health goals. Whether this is your first time in therapy or you are a seasoned client, I congratulate you on this next step of your journey. My goal is to create a safe space for clients to feel heard and understood as they navigate through their journey. I aim to cultivate a warm and inviting environment where they are met with empathy and support while recognizing necessary elements such as change, personal strengths, and radical acceptance.

Although I have an eclectic approach (meaning a culmination of evidence-based models), I often pull from dialectic behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), solution-focused, and humanistic theories. I also integrate faith-based therapy principles (i.e., Christian therapy) for clients who find it of support.

The first visit is a time to get to know you a little bit and gain an understanding of what brought you into therapy. It is an opportunity for clients to also assess if they feel the provider was a good fit. Having a good rapport is necessary in this work, and I will always support clients in seeking that, even if it is not with me.