Laurie Melendez, LPC

Laurie Melendez is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Texas who uses practical, skills-based work to help people manage stress and change. She leans on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as one of the ways to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Laurie writes in a direct, compassionate way and focuses on clear steps clients can use between sessions.

She helps people facing low self-esteem, confidence struggles, and motivation gaps. Career concerns, workplace stress, and money-related worries are also part of her practice. Laurie supports people navigating pregnancy and childbirth challenges and the transitions that come with major life changes.

Her approach is collaborative. She tailors conversation and plans to each person’s needs and goals rather than using the same strategy for everyone. That means practical tools, short-term goals, and a focus on skills that can be used day to day.

Laurie also works with communication problems and control issues that get in the way of everyday functioning. Sessions often include problem-solving and techniques to manage anxiety and stress in real time.

She draws on seven years of professional experience in counseling and offers sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Laurie aims to support and empower people taking first steps toward change, with guidance that stays straightforward and respectful.

Using CBT and Narrative Tools in Online Therapy

Laurie combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy to address patterns that keep people stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing small behaviors to reduce stress and improve mood. It is useful for anxiety, low self-esteem, and motivation problems. Narrative Therapy helps people reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their lives, which can be helpful for self-love, role changes like pregnancy, and major life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Laurie will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and day-to-day challenges, then suggest techniques likely to help. Together they will try methods and adjust plans based on what feels most helpful for the client's situation.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for this work. Video calls let Laurie observe nonverbal cues and practice skills in real time. Phone sessions can fit into a work break or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, goal reminders, and written exercises between sessions. These options make it easier to keep momentum while working on communication, coping skills, and problem-solving.