Melissa is a Licensed Social Worker with 28 years of experience working with adolescents and their families. She graduated from Rutgers with her Master’s Degree in Social Work with the focus on children and families and a concentration on group work. Melissa is currently the Clinical Director of a School Based Youth Services Program that supports children and families in focusing on the enhancement of student’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing throughout their high school experience.
Melissa’s therapeutic focus is utilizing cognitive behavioral, strength based and solution focused therapies. She believes in finding and nurturing the strengths that children have to help them not only regulate their emotions but to then succeed in school, at home and in their communities. Melissa specializes in adolescents managing anxiety, depression, trauma and loss, socialization, healthy relationships, and emotional regulation.
Melissa began her social work career working with Juvenile Justice Programs and has worked with adolescents both throughin- home therapy and in residential programs. She has always been an advocate for supporting children to be successful in their environment by identifying a child’s protective factors and natural supports. She has been in School Based Youth Services programming for the past 15 years and continues to find creative and meaningful opportunities for healthy youth development and shining the light on the importance of positive mental health in the school community.
Outside of her love of working with children, she is an avid runner and loves finding her peace at the beach and documenting her life through positive affirmations and love of the outdoors. Melissa loves setting her own personal goals and daily challenges and finds joy in seeing her clients and their families feel empowered to reach their own.
Serving NJ clients