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Headway
Headshot of Melissa Illario, LCSW

Melissa Illario

Therapist
6 years of experience
23 patients on Headway
  • Virtual
  • Eating disorders, Trauma, PTSD
  • Individual therapy

Great to meet you!

I work with adults who feel as if something is wrong or missing. Sometimes they know why, and other times it can be a looming feeling they can't identify. I am trauma-centered and I am comfortable sitting with any experience you are willing to work through to get to the healing part that you deserve. I enjoy helping people overcome challenging experiences and see the changes that healing provides.

My approach to therapy

My go-to therapy approach is CBT-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in order to find stuck points and thinking errors that hinder clients from truly being free from their thoughts and feelings. I also specialize in EMDR for PTSD, Trauma, and for working through negative core beliefs. I have seen many clients evolve through difficult experiences with this approach and feel strongly that healing is possible even if life seems like it will never get better.

What you can expect from me

My communication style

I value having an understanding and compassionate therapy environment where clients can be vulnerable in their experiences and feel supported. Due to seeing clients fully remotely at this time, I have a broad library of handouts and engaging content to share with clients during and outside of sessions to support them the best way I can.

My goals for you

We will create our treatment plan collaboratively in our first session and create goals specifically for you. Most often goals are centered around incorporating new coping skills or gaining a deeper understanding of our past and how it impacts our present and future. I enjoy being an outpatient therapist because we can create any goals you want in the timeframe that you want to have sessions.

My first session with you

During your first session we will get to know each other and go through intake questions to help us create therapy goals specifically for you. We will also talk about coping skills you use. I will provide handouts with education on what therapy is and helpful guides for you to reference in between sessions.

About me

  • I identify as
    Caucasian, Woman
  • My style is
    Participatory, Creative, Inquisitive

Qualification and insurance

  • Years of experience
    6 years of experience
  • Training
    MSW (Master of Social Work) at Utah Valley University
  • License type
    LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) (Utah, California)
  • Licensed in
  • Insurance accepted
    Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Shield of California, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Curative, Providence Health Plan

Cost

Care details

  • Top specialties
    Eating disorders, Trauma, PTSD
  • More specialties
    Anxiety, Depression, Stress management, Men's issues, Women's issues
  • Therapy methods
    Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Strength-Based, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Trauma Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing (CPT)
  • Care types
    Individual therapy
  • Ages served
    Adults, Seniors
  • Languages
    English
  • Location
    2070 Business Center Drive Suite 280
    Irvine, CA 92612