Therapist profile
Melissa Reyerson-Slifer, LISW, LCSW
Licensed clinical social worker - Family and parenting
Continue with MelissaAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship support
- CBT and mindfulness
About Melissa
Melissa Reyerson-Slifer is a licensed clinical social worker in California with LISW and LCSW credentials and five years of clinical experience. She helps people who are facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, depression, self-esteem challenges, grief, and issues around intimacy. She also works with concerns such as bipolar symptoms, anger, and coping with life changes.
Melissa uses straightforward conversation to identify what feels most urgent. She listens for patterns in daily thoughts and behaviors and helps people try practical steps that can reduce distress. Sessions often include skill-building and brief experiments people can use between meetings.
Her background includes long experience in the mental health field before becoming a licensed clinician. That history informs a clinical style that mixes client-centered conversation with structured methods. Melissa draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thinking and behavior, and on mindfulness practices to build moment-to-moment awareness.
She also uses the Gottman Method tools when relationship communication and conflict come up, and motivational interviewing to help people clarify goals and get moving. These approaches are used together to match what a person needs in session, rather than relying on a single method.
People who contact Melissa typically want clear steps and practical skills they can use at home. To begin they are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Sessions vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How sessions work
How Melissa integrates approaches for online work
Melissa often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going. CBT breaks concerns into clear patterns and suggests short exercises to change unhelpful thinking and routines. Mindfulness Therapy is used to build present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity by practicing simple attention and breathing skills.She also draws on the Gottman Method when communication and conflict in relationships are a focus. Those tools translate into concrete communication skills and small experiments clients can practice between sessions. Choosing which approaches to use is collaborative; the therapist and client decide together based on needs, goals, and what feels manageable in everyday life.
The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into busy schedules, allow for shorter check-ins, or avoid travel time. Discussing preferences at the first appointment helps match session length and pacing to what works for each person.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Iowa, California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, depression, self-esteem, grief, intimacy-related issues, and related concerns listed in her specialties.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style blends client-centered conversation with structured methods like CBT and mindfulness to create practical steps clients can try between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years as a licensed clinician and over a decade in the mental health field prior to licensure.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LISW and LCSW credentials and practices from California.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether video or phone sessions are offered.
How do fees and payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to get started?
Select 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.