- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- CBT techniques
About Melissa
Melissa Fernald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Maine with 25 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma and a wide range of life and relationship concerns. Melissa frames therapy as practical and focused, aiming to help people make progress without unnecessary delay.
Her background includes work in hospitals, community programs, and private practice. Those settings shaped a straightforward style that emphasizes building on strengths. Sessions focus on clear skills and steps that address the problems clients bring in the moment.
Melissa describes her approach as solution-focused and strength-based. She values honesty and a direct, down-to-earth manner. Humor and plain talk are part of how she helps people break patterns and learn new ways of coping.
She uses a mix of methods drawn from Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and client-centered work. That range lets her match techniques to a person’s needs, whether the concern is mood, addiction, parenting stress, or difficulty with relationships and intimacy.
People who look for straightforward help with practical tools and clearer next steps often find this style useful. Melissa aims to help clients leave sessions feeling more capable and with concrete ideas to try between meetings.
How her approaches translate to online work
Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people name and track emotions and patterns in close relationships. It can support work on attachment and intimacy-related issues by helping people notice and respond to feelings that drive behavior.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying values and taking small committed actions. It offers practical exercises for anxiety, depression, and life transitions that can be practiced between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Melissa will talk with clients about goals and preferences and then try methods that fit those needs. That collaborative process guides which tools and exercises are used in sessions.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow focused check-ins between other responsibilities. They also allow use of worksheets, in-session exercises, and coaching-style steps that translate well to remote meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Maine, New Hampshire
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting and caregiver stress, and career or life-change concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is solution-focused and strength-based with plain language and practical skills. She aims for clear steps clients can try between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience working in hospitals, community programs, and private practice.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCSW with credentials listed as ME LCSW and NH LCSW, and she practices in Maine.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or from other countries?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To get started, select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.