Melissa Benson, LMHC, LCMHC

Melissa Benson is a licensed mental health counselor with 24 years of practice in Florida. She helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She also supports people facing addiction, attention challenges, relationship and intimacy concerns, and self-esteem struggles.

She listens with respect and sensitivity and adapts conversations to match each person’s needs. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps rather than jargon. Melissa works to make the process feel doable and focused on everyday life improvements.

Her approach draws from client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused work. That mix lets her tailor sessions to problems like sleep and eating issues, trauma and abuse recovery, or coping with bipolar symptoms. She aims to combine short-term tools with deeper listening as needed.

Melissa’s background includes many years helping people through loss, addiction recovery, and life transitions. She frames progress as small, steady changes and supports people in trying different strategies until something fits. Her credential list includes Licensed Mental Health Counselor, or LMHC, and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC.

People who meet with her can expect direct conversation about what’s working and what isn’t. She invites clients to set goals together and to adjust plans over time. To start, follow the site’s process to match and schedule a first session.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Client-centered work focuses on what matters most to the person in the room. The therapist listens closely and adjusts conversations to reflect each person’s goals and values. This approach helps when someone needs a respectful space to sort priorities and make decisions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It uses simple, practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns and is often useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with life changes. Mindfulness Therapy teaches attention and self-awareness skills to reduce reactivity and improve calm in daily life.

Deciding which approach fits best is part of the early work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to test methods and adjust based on results and preferences. The aim is to find strategies that feel useful and sustainable.

Confirm the session formats offered before booking to learn how sessions are delivered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. Many people find that remote work helps them keep momentum between sessions while still trying practical tools together.