Melissa Colton

Compassionate CBT-informed therapy for life challenges

LMHC Florida

Experience: 27 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Melissa

Melissa Colton is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) who brings a cognitive behavioral framework to her work while drawing on humanistic and mindfulness-informed perspectives.

Background and approach

With 27 years in the field, she blends evidence-based strategies like CBT and skills-based work from dialectical behavior therapy with a client-centered stance to help people navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disturbances, and addictive patterns. Her approach emphasizes practical tools alongside reflective exploration to address stress, self-esteem concerns, grief, and challenges related to identity and relationships.

Colton frames therapy as a collaborative process that honors each person's values and life story. She helps clients untangle patterns that maintain distress while fostering skills for emotional regulation, coping with life changes, and pursuing purpose.

Additional focus areas include bipolar conditions, ADHD, social anxiety, intimacy and parenting challenges, compassion fatigue, and career transitions. Based in Florida and offering services in English, she aims to support clients who are ready to explore change and build sustainable skills for life.

Therapeutic Methods and Online Care

Melissa often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as part of her online practice. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression, and it tends to be goal-oriented and skills-focused. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills, which can be especially useful for mood instability, intense emotions, and relationship challenges.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to clarify goals, assess what techniques match their needs, and adjust methods as progress unfolds so that treatment fits personal values and circumstances.

Offering video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging makes therapy more accessible and flexible for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide regular support, teach practical skills, and check in between sessions when needed, helping clients maintain momentum while balancing other life responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa commonly address?

She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar conditions, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting, anger, career concerns, and compassion fatigue.

What therapy styles does she use in sessions?

The practice integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness therapy, existential ideas, and solution-focused techniques to tailor treatment to individual needs.

How much professional experience does the clinician have?

The therapist brings 27 years of experience in mental health practice, applying a mix of therapeutic approaches across many presenting problems.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

Melissa holds the credential LMHC and is licensed in Florida under FL LMHC MH7533.

Does she see clients who speak other languages or live abroad?

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

Which session formats are available with this therapist?

Clients may meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and availability.

How are fees and billing handled?

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

What is the process for beginning therapy?

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

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteemBipolar disorderDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Guilt and shameLife purposeMood disorders Social anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

27+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English