Melana Serka

Support for stress, relationships, and life change

LMFT California

Experience: 14 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Melana

Melana Serka is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on helping people regain balance when life feels overwhelming.

Background and approach

She supports clients coping with stress, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, self-esteem and mood concerns, and a wide range of related issues including trauma, eating difficulties, ADHD, and career or parenting challenges. Her work also covers topics such as blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, and fertility-related stress.

Drawing on 14 years of clinical experience and her own experience as a single parent, Melana combines practical, evidence-informed tools with a warm, client-centered stance. She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to explore thoughts and behaviors that maintain distress, and integrates solution-focused and strength-based strategies to help clients identify concrete steps forward.

She also draws from mindfulness and DBT-informed skills where helpful to improve emotion regulation and coping. Melana practices in California as an LMFT (CA LMFT 104135) and conducts sessions in English.

Her style aims for clarity and collaboration, helping people clarify goals, practice new skills, and create more satisfying connections and routines in everyday life.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Melana commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered methods in her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression and to improve daily functioning. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients can explore values and goals at their own pace.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are priorities, teaching practical skills for managing intense feelings and improving communication. These approaches are presented in straightforward, skill-oriented ways that aim to help clients make meaningful changes between sessions.

Finding the right combination of methods is part of the therapeutic process, and she works collaboratively with each person to tailor strategies to their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they determine which tools to try, adjust as progress unfolds, and prioritize what feels most useful.

Online therapy with Melana is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase accessibility and fit varied schedules. This range of formats supports flexible engagement whether someone prefers face-to-face conversation by video, shorter check-ins by text, or the convenience of phone conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, self-esteem and mood issues, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, parenting and career stress, bipolar and ADHD related challenges, and many related topics.

What is her therapeutic approach and style?

Her approach blends client-centered work with evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT-informed skills, mindfulness practices, and solution-focused strategies to create practical, collaborative treatment plans.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings 14 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families across a variety of life and mental health concerns.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, credentialed as CA LMFT 104135, and provides services based in California.

In which language are sessions offered and can international clients join?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

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

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule an appointment based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteem Depression

Also works with

LGBTTrauma and abuseEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Autism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Eating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English