Melissa Johnson
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Connecticut therapists accepting new clients
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About Melissa
If you’re looking for a therapist who feels real, approachable, and genuinely invested in you, you’re in the right place. I believe therapy works best when you feel understood, respected, and safe enough to be honest. I lead with warmth, curiosity, and compassion, while also offering thoughtful challenges when they’re helpful for growth. We can laugh, sit with hard emotions, and talk about what’s actually going on, without judgment or pressure to have it all figured out.
The heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship. I see healing as something that happens between us, built on trust, consistency, and feeling truly seen. I show up as a real human in the room and value collaboration, transparency, and pacing that feels right for you. My goal is to create a space where you feel supported and empowered, while also gently encouraged to step outside of patterns that may no longer be serving you.
I draw from CBT and DBT to help you build practical skills, increase emotional awareness, and better understand how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. I also approach therapy relationally, paying close attention to how your past and present relationships shape the way you experience yourself and others. Together, we’ll explore what’s coming up for you now, strengthen coping tools, and work toward change that feels meaningful and sustainable.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply in need of a space where you don’t have to carry everything alone, I’m here. You don’t need to be “ready” or have all the answers to begin. I’ll meet you where you are, offer steady support, and walk alongside you as we work toward greater clarity, balance, and self-compassion.
What Melissa helps with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Show 6 more areas
- Communication problems
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Self-love
What clients say
- “I have only met with Melissa twice now but it feels like I have known her for a long time. She is so open and super easy to talk to! She has been great and I hope to continue with her!”
- “Melissa has been an amazing.”
- “Helpful and gave me good pointers and strategies to handle my anxiety.”
Show all 8 reviews
- “Melissa is a very caring therapist and very knowledgeable. She listens to me, provides great feedback and advice. Makes me feel comfortable, so it does not feel like I am being looked at through a microscope. We get through every nook and cranny of my mental health, emotions, and thoughts. I am very happy with her as a therapist.”
- “All positive so far. Great conversations. Great suggestions. I have zero negative feedback through our first two sessions.”
- “Melissa is amazing and down to earth. She makes you feel comfortable and provides a safe space to share whatever it is that you are feeling. I am so grateful to have been matched with such a great therapist.”
- “Melissa is a great listener. Creative thinker, always trying new avenues to try and help me. Make me feel comfortable in any situation.”
- “Melissa is great in terms of establishing quick rapport and developing trust and relationship. I am at total ease and always feel better after our session. Melissa makes great suggestions on coping strategies and helps with establishing goals and coping strategies.”
These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.