About
- Stress and anxiety
- Eating and body image
- Trauma and grief
About Melinna
Melinna Perez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 10 years of clinical experience. She lists stress, anxiety, eating concerns, depression, LGBT issues, family problems, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related concerns, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes among the issues she addresses.
She draws from several evidence-informed methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and client-centered work. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps people can try between meetings. Her style emphasizes listening first and then trying approaches that fit a person's goals and daily life.
Melinna has worked in outpatient and residential settings and offers both individual and group work according to her background. She has experience with relationship and parenting concerns, eating and body-image issues, trauma, addiction, insomnia, and mood conditions. She also notes additional focus areas including adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, and communication problems.
She provides therapy in English and Spanish. Her training background includes a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy from USC and undergraduate degrees in psychology and English. People usually start by filling a short questionnaire and scheduling an initial visit to see how the approach fits.
Outside of clinical work she spends time with family and pets, reads, cooks, meditates, and enjoys being near the beach. This background informs a practical, down-to-earth approach to help adults manage stressful or painful situations at home.
How sessions work
Approaches used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It can help with anxiety, stress, and life transitions by teaching practical skills for handling difficult thoughts and feelings.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It offers concrete tools to change unhelpful thinking patterns and build coping skills for issues like depression, anxiety, and eating concerns.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and then try methods that fit. That might mean combining techniques or adjusting focus over time so sessions stay useful and realistic.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. If video is difficult some people prefer audio or other arrangements, so check what formats are available and what works best for your schedule and circumstances.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with related to family life?
She lists family problems, parenting concerns, communication problems, divorce and separation, and related issues among her focus areas.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style blends client-centered listening with practical methods like ACT, CBT, DBT, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to find what fits each person.
How many years has she practiced?
She has 10 years of clinical experience working in outpatient and residential settings.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Can I work with her in Spanish?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does she see clients outside the U.S.?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to meet her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.