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Melissa Medina, LCSW
Staff Therapist
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Biography
I'm a therapist who has spent years treating adults and older adults living with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, panic attacks, grief, and the strain of family conflict or a life that's shifting under them. A lot of the people I sit with are navigating trauma, or a transition they didn't ask for, and they want someone who won't hand them a one-size-fits-all script. I trained through a community mental health agency in Los Angeles, where I worked with people from very different backgrounds facing genuinely complicated circumstances, and that shaped how I practice now.
I think of therapy as both a journey and a destination, so I keep my approach eclectic rather than loyal to any single method. Depending on what fits you, I draw on psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, strengths-based, and dialectical behavioral work, along with EMDR for trauma. Early on, I'm mostly interested in your story: what brought you here, what you're hoping for, and how you actually communicate. From there we build a plan tailored to you rather than to a diagnosis. I want the work to feel culturally attuned and neurodivergent-friendly, and I care that you leave with fresh perspective and practical tools, not just conversation.
Reaching out for the first time takes real nerve. If you've gotten this far, you've already started the harder part, and I'd be glad to help you take the next step.
Expertise and specialties
Education and training
- California State University, Dominguez Hills ( Master of Social Work )