Melissa works with children, teens, adults, and families, helping them navigate challenges related to school, emotions, relationships, and everyday life.  With over 20 years experience as a social worker, she specializes in crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and creating supportive environments where children and families feel understood and cared for.  She believes that everyone has the ability to grow, heal, and make meaningful changes. Her approach is practical, collaborative, and focused on helping clients build coping skills while creating a personalized plan that feels manageable and empowering. Melissa often incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with psychosocial approaches to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Drawing on her experience from working in schools, Melissa collaborates with families and school teams to help develop and implement 504 Plans and IEPs, ensuring students receive the academic and emotional support they need to succeed. She values open communication and is committed to creating a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe, understood, and comfortable being themselves.

Education:  Melissa earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University (1999) and her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2003).  She began her career teaching in Chicago Public Schools before transitioning into school social work, where she has spent over two decades supporting students in therapeutic schools, elementary schools, and wraparound programs focused on the whole child.