Melissa Madriaga
Practical, compassionate counseling for life transitions
LPC Wisconsin
- Experience
- 8 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Eating, Self esteem
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Melissa
Melissa Madriaga welcomes people seeking practical, compassionate support for stress, anxiety, mood struggles, eating and body image concerns, relationship and family difficulties, and a wide range of life changes. She emphasizes an approachable, strengths-based atmosphere where clients can explore patterns, build coping skills, and clarify priorities.
Background and approach
Melissa is presented as a licensed professional counselor who draws on eight years of clinical experience in varied community settings. Her practice integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered and mindfulness-informed perspectives to address unhelpful thinking, emotion regulation, and behavioral patterns.
Melissa also uses narrative approaches to help people reframe difficult experiences and reclaim personal agency. She earned a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and brings focused experience supporting people navigating trauma, grief, addiction-related concerns, parenting challenges, and adjustment to major life transitions.
Based in Wisconsin, Melissa offers a flexible approach to scheduling and provides services through multiple online formats to fit different needs. Her work aims to combine practical skill-building with collaborative exploration so clients can move toward clearer goals and a greater sense of balance.
Approaches that translate well to online therapy
Melissa often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach is well suited to online work because it emphasizes practical skills, homework, and measurable goals. She also integrates client-centered therapy that focuses on empathetic listening and collaboration, helping clients feel heard and supported while they set their own therapeutic priorities. These methods can be combined with mindfulness practices to build present-moment awareness and stress regulation when needed.Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melissa works collaboratively with clients to determine which combination of techniques best fits their needs, goals, and preferences. She aims to tailor interventions rather than applying a single method, and she reviews progress together so adjustments can be made over time.
Online formats like video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging provide flexibility for people balancing work, family, or other commitments. These options make it easier to attend sessions from different locations, maintain momentum between meetings, and access timely support when challenges arise. The online setting can support consistent skill practice and ongoing communication while fitting into a client's everyday life.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Licensed
Wisconsin
Languages
English