Melissa Polizzano

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to supporting the emotional and behavioral well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. My practice focuses on conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood disorders, and behavioral concerns. I believe mental health care should feel collaborative, compassionate, and personalized to each child and family’s needs. My goal is to create a supportive environment where clients feel safe, understood, and empowered throughout treatment. I value building strong relationships with both clients and parents to help foster long-term growth and resilience.

My approach to care is warm, collaborative, and centered around the individual needs of each client and family. I take time to understand emotional, behavioral, academic, social, and family factors that may be impacting a child or adolescent’s mental health. Treatment plans are personalized and may include medication management, supportive therapy, coping strategies, and lifestyle recommendations when appropriate. I focus on helping young clients build confidence, emotional regulation skills, and healthier daily functioning. I also believe parents and caregivers play an important role in treatment and value open communication throughout the process.

During the first session, clients and families can expect a welcoming and nonjudgmental environment where they have space to openly discuss their concerns and goals. I complete a thorough evaluation that includes emotional and behavioral symptoms, medical history, school performance, family dynamics, stressors, sleep, and previous treatment experiences. My goal is to gain a full understanding of the child or adolescent’s unique strengths and challenges rather than focusing only on symptoms. Together, we begin developing a personalized treatment plan tailored to the client’s needs and goals. I want families to leave the session feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about the next steps in care.