Melissa Fernald, LCSW

Melissa Fernald is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience in mental health and addiction work. She offers practical, down-to-earth support designed to help people tackle the problems they face today. Melissa keeps sessions focused and goal-oriented so people can make progress without therapy becoming longer than needed.

She uses a strength-based, solution-focused style that builds on what already helps. Melissa blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other approaches to teach skills for managing stress and strong emotions. She stays calm and nonjudgmental and brings honesty and a touch of humor to sessions.

Her experience includes work in hospitals, community programs, and private practice. That variety shaped her approach to be practical and adaptable. She helps people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, and work stress.

Melissa also addresses concerns like ADHD, bipolar challenges, anger, eating issues, and caregiver burnout. She supports people dealing with family conflict, divorce and separation, substance use, and co-occurring problems. Her focus is on clear steps people can use between sessions.

Sessions are offered in English and delivered online by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Melissa works with each person to set realistic goals and practice new skills that fit everyday life.

How Melissa’s approaches work in online sessions

Melissa often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing behaviors so daily life feels more manageable. CBT is practical for problems like anxiety, depression, and stress because it teaches tools you can use between sessions.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people accept difficult feelings while committing to values-based actions. ACT is useful when someone wants to move toward a clearer sense of purpose despite emotional pain. Attachment-Based Therapy appears in her work to help people understand patterns in relationships and improve emotional connection with others.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. Melissa will help you decide which methods fit your goals and preferences. She checks in regularly and tweaks the plan so sessions match your needs and pace.

The online format offers practical flexibility. Video calls let you work face-to-face without travel, phone sessions are helpful when bandwidth or camera use is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging can serve as short check-ins or support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and keep momentum toward your goals.