Melissa Averett

Empathetic counselor focused on practical change

LPC Louisiana

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

About Melissa

Melissa Averett is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana with 14 years of clinical experience.

Background and approach

She completed a master’s degree in education counseling and has worked in both residential and outpatient settings, including supporting women in addiction recovery and offering ongoing treatment for adults facing a range of mental health challenges. Her background includes focused work around trauma related to divorce, assisting clients as they move toward healing and forgiveness.

Her style blends Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, using a warm, empathic approach to build rapport and help clients clarify goals. She teaches practical skills such as setting healthy boundaries, improving self-esteem, recognizing choices and consequences, and strengthening assertive communication.

Melissa also uses cognitive restructuring techniques to identify, challenge, and replace unhelpful thoughts with healthier alternatives. She works with concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, sleep problems, parenting challenges, anger, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and many relational and personality-focused issues.

Her work emphasizes collaboration, skill-building, and measurable steps toward clients’ goals.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. In practice this often means learning to spot distorted thinking, testing beliefs against reality, and adopting more effective coping strategies to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, or problematic behavior. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship in which the therapist offers empathy and acceptance while clients explore their goals and values to find solutions that fit their life.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will work with each person to determine which strategies best match their concerns, preferences, and goals, and she adapts techniques over time as needs evolve. Clients and therapist set goals together and review progress so the plan stays aligned with what the client finds most helpful.

Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to access consistent care without rearranging major parts of daily life. These formats support flexible scheduling, allow clients to practice skills between sessions, and make it possible to receive ongoing coaching and guidance from licensed professionals even when in-person visits are impractical.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she address?

She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, sleep difficulties, parenting struggles, anger, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue, ADHD, trauma and relationship or family issues.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her approach combines Client-Centered Therapy to build rapport and explore goals with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to teach coping skills and reshape unhelpful thoughts.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She has 14 years of experience, including four years in residential care for women recovering from addiction and nine years providing outpatient counseling to adults for varied mental health needs.

What credentials and location should I know about?

She holds the LPC credential and is licensed in Louisiana under LA LPC 4551.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

She does not accept international clients at this time; services are provided to clients within the locations she is able to serve.

Which session formats are available for online work?

Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.

How does billing and cost work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and services are delivered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps should I take to begin therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

Louisiana

Languages

English