Melissa Torres

Compassionate, evidence-based support for change

LCSW Virginia

Experience: 6 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Spanish

About Melissa

Melissa Torres is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with six years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction.

Background and approach

She emphasizes compassionate, culturally aware care and aims to support clients dealing with grief, relationship and family difficulties, intimacy concerns, self-esteem struggles, career transitions, and compassion fatigue. Her practice also addresses a broad range of related issues such as attachment and abandonment wounds, communication problems, codependency, and substance use challenges.

Therapeutic work is rooted in evidence-based methods with attention to real-world coping and emotional processing. Melissa uses approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help clients build resilience and move toward their goals.

She offers services in both English and Spanish, creating an inclusive space that respects cultural identity and personal history. Melissa seeks to partner with each person, helping them process difficult experiences and develop practical skills for lasting change.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Melissa commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into her online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, while ACT emphasizes values-based action and accepting difficult emotions as a pathway toward meaningful change.

She also uses client-centered principles, offering an empathic, nonjudgmental stance that helps people feel heard and respected as they try different strategies. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process, and she will work with each client to tailor methods based on individual needs, goals, and preferences rather than relying on a single technique.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging expands flexibility for scheduling and lets clients access care from home or while on the go. These formats support ongoing skill practice, check-ins between sessions, and options for people who prefer different communication styles, making it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa commonly address?

She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship and family issues, intimacy concerns, self-esteem problems, career questions, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue.

What is Melissa's therapeutic style and approach?

Her style blends evidence-based techniques with a compassionate, client-centered stance. She draws on CBT, ACT, DBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to match methods to each person's needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Melissa has six years of professional experience working as a licensed practitioner with people facing a range of emotional and behavioral challenges.

What are Melissa's credentials and where is she licensed?

She holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in Virginia with license number VA LCSW 0904011528.

Which languages are available for sessions and can she see international clients?

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. International clients are not currently accepted.

What formats of sessions does she provide?

Melissa offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payment arranged?

Cost varies based on location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

6+ years

Licensed

Virginia

Languages

English, Spanish