Melissa Button

Collaborative skill-building for stress and addiction recovery

LMHC New York

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Melissa

Melissa Button brings a practical, client-centered approach to people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, low self-esteem, depression, and compassion fatigue. She emphasizes building rapport early on so she can learn each person's priorities and develop individualized tools to address both interpersonal and internal conflicts.

Background and approach

With fifteen years of professional experience and a New York LMHC credential, she draws on a blend of evidence-informed methods to tailor care to what matters most to the client. Her style mixes collaborative exploration with skills-based strategies so clients can practice new ways of coping between sessions.

Melissa uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic ideas, and mindfulness to help clients increase motivation, manage difficult emotions, and reduce unhelpful patterns. She frames clients as the experts of their own stories and works to amplify existing strengths while introducing practical steps toward change.

Clients who seek help for caregiver stress, chronic pain or illness, codependency, workplace conflict, social anxiety, substance concerns, or feelings of isolation will find a clinician who emphasizes listening first, then skill-building and goal-oriented work. Melissa encourages taking the first step and offers guidance through the process of making lasting shifts.

Practical therapeutic approaches for online care

Melissa blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with client-centered principles to support change in online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, low mood, and patterns that feed addiction. DBT contributes concrete emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills that are helpful for managing intense feelings and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Client-centered work keeps the conversation grounded in each person's values and priorities so goals stay relevant and personally meaningful.

Finding the right approach is part of the work; she collaborates with each client to determine which methods fit their needs and preferences. That collaborative process means techniques can be adjusted over time, combining skill-building, motivational work, or reflective exploration based on how a client responds and what they want to achieve.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to enhance flexibility. These formats make it easier to attend regularly, practice skills between meetings, and fit therapy into busy schedules without commuting. The variety of options supports different communication styles and life demands while keeping the therapeutic focus on practical progress and achievable goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with?

She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, self-esteem difficulties, depression, and compassion fatigue, along with related issues such as caregiver stress, chronic illness, codependency, and workplace problems.

How would you describe her therapeutic approach?

Her work is collaborative and person-centered, combining skills-based strategies with exploratory conversation. She integrates approaches like cognitive behavioral techniques, DBT skills, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and psychodynamic perspectives.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She has 15 years of professional experience working with clients across a range of mood, stress, and substance-related concerns and focuses on building practical coping skills and motivation.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

Melissa holds a New York LMHC credential with license number NY LMHC 005966 and practices from New York.

Can non-English speakers work with her?

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

What formats are available for sessions?

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

How much do sessions cost?

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

How do I begin working with her?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Self esteem Depression Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Caregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsDrug and alcohol addictionForgivenessGuilt and shame Isolation / lonelinessMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

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

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English