Melissa Macaluso

Melissa works with young adults and adults navigating anxiety, depression, low self-worth, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or trauma that affects daily life, relationships, & overall well-being. She creates a warm, safe, and trusting space where clients feel supported, heard, and empowered to explore themselves, grow, build confidence, balance, and practical tools for lasting change. Melissa has experience working in PHP, IOP, hospital and school settings; she received her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Melissa also specializes in supervising counselors in training.

In our work together, we'll slow things down so you can understand what's driving your stress, self-doubt and burnout. You'll learn how to build boundaries and self-confidence with tools to help you feel grounded and proud of who you are, without guilt or second-guessing. We might explore roots to some of these experiences and learn patterns no longer serving you, as we practice new ways to cope and create supportive habits. Melissa recognizes that you're the expert on your own life, and so collaboration and feedback are a crucial way to maintain a sense of alignment as our work unfolds.​ Melissa may use tools from DBT, CBT, psychodynamic and solution-focused approaches. Melissa will walk beside you to identify patterns, make sense of your experiences, and ultimately empower you to take better care of yourself, strengthen your relationships, and feel lighter, stronger and more in control of your story.​

During the first session, Melissa uses this time to get to know you, what brings you to therapy, and a bit about your history. We will work together to identify areas of concern and focus on identifying goals to serve as the blueprint for starting our work together. We take it at your pace, recognizing that starting therapy can come with many feelings.