CBTTherapistsUSA

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

MD Portrait of Melissa Dawicki

Melissa Dawicki

Practical, collaborative therapy for life challenges

LPC South Carolina

Experience
17 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Anger
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English

About Melissa

Melissa Dawicki brings a CBT-informed approach to counseling, blending cognitive behavioral strategies with mindfulness and client-centered principles to help clients address mood, stress, and relationship concerns.

Background and approach

Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 17 years of experience across community mental health, emergency room settings, independent practice, and telehealth, and she draws on practical, evidence-based techniques to support people working through depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and life transitions.

She focuses on helping people strengthen coping skills for issues such as self-esteem struggles, sleeping difficulties, career stress, bipolar mood concerns, compassion fatigue, and family or relationship conflicts. Melissa also has experience with a range of additional concerns including caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, blended family dynamics, and adjustment after separation or loss.

Sessions emphasize collaboration, skill-building, and gradual change while acknowledging that meaningful progress takes time and active engagement. Based in South Carolina, Melissa communicates in English and offers a mix of live and text-based session formats tailored to client needs.

Prospective clients are encouraged to assess fit and availability when beginning therapy, and Melissa outlines expectations around scheduling and participation to help therapy be as effective as possible.

Using CBT and Mindfulness Online to Build Practical Skills

Melissa commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and learn concrete strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors that maintain distress and is useful for problem-focused work and symptom reduction.

She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy which encourages acceptance of difficult internal experiences while clarifying personal values and committed action. ACT can help when people are navigating grief, chronic stress, or life transitions by emphasizing psychological flexibility. Client-centered principles guide sessions as well, creating a collaborative space where the client's perspective and goals shape the therapeutic plan.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process; the therapist collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they may try different techniques and adjust direction as progress emerges.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging provides flexibility for scheduling and communication style. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, maintain continuity across locations in the same region, and use different modes of interaction for skill practice, reflection, and support.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa commonly address in therapy?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, self-esteem, relationship and family problems, sleeping and career issues, bipolar mood concerns, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes among other areas.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Melissa integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness and client-centered practices, emphasizing practical skills, reflection, and collaborative goal setting tailored to each person's needs.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has 17 years of behavioral health experience across community mental health, emergency room, independent practice, and telehealth settings, working with a broad range of presenting symptoms and life stressors.
What credentials and regional licensure does she hold?
Melissa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and holds SC LPC 5805 and WV LPC 2706, and she practices out of South Carolina.
Does she work with clients who speak other languages or who live abroad?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available for therapy?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexible options that fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How does pricing and payment work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsSleeping disordersCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

South Carolina, Maine, West Virginia

Languages

English