Dr. Melissa Matugas

Life comes with loss and change: the death of a loved one, the loss of health, a break-up. Dealing with any loss often negatively affects us, and it is easy to fall into depression or develop anxiety if our coping is not managed and nurtured appropriately. My background includes working as a hospice and hospital social worker providing bereavement counseling. During that time, I recognized the disparities certain populations face during their grief journey, so I pursued my PhD in Counseling and Psychological Studies with a focus on Asian Americans and grief. As an Asian American Filipina offering telehealth in California and Hawaii, I provide culturally competent therapy to adolescents, adults, and seniors managing dual or multi-cultural BIPOC identities. It is a deep honor to help you establish a secure, empowering baseline for your care, drawing on my eight years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and my time treating PTSD at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

I am an empathetic and sensitive therapist, and I believe that genuine emotional growth happens when we balance clinical expertise with an authentic, deeply human connection. I approach therapy in a person-centered way, focusing completely on your needs. By drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Psychoanalytic frameworks, we will outline tangible goals to ensure our therapeutic work translates into meaningful progress in your daily life. I also integrate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy while bringing in my specific expertise in providing end-of-life therapy, grief counseling, and creating custom mindfulness recordings. Whether you are dealing with chronic illness, relationship stress, or navigating life transitions, I am glad you are taking steps to process what change or loss means to you.

It can be scary to reach out to someone and process emotions and challenges, and my hope is that our initial telehealth meeting acts as a quiet refuge where you can safely step away from the heavy demands of daily stress. During our first session together, I strive to cultivate a warm, non-judgmental environment right from the start. I like to learn about what is bringing you to therapy, gently exploring your history, background, and current symptoms at a natural, comfortable pace without any pressure to share everything all at once. My primary focus is ensuring you feel fully heard and validated as we collaboratively design a clear roadmap tailored entirely to your client-centered goals, making sure you feel supported every step of the way.