PuttingFamilyFirst

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MH Portrait of Melissa Hunt
Online therapist

Melissa Hunt

Empathetic social worker focused on family well-being

Credentials
LMSW
Experience
18 years
Licensed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Melissa

Melissa Hunt is a licensed social worker with 18 years of experience in Michigan. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, family tensions, parenting questions, and career challenges. Her manner is calm and direct, aimed at practical steps parents can try between sessions.

She writes and listens with the goal of making therapy feel understandable and useful. Her work often focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside related issues like blended family adjustments and adoption or foster care questions.

Background and approach

She also addresses attachment concerns, caregiver stress, substance use, and communication breakdowns. Melissa uses straightforward skills to reduce overwhelm and sharpen decision-making. Therapy sessions blend active listening with hands-on strategies.

She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thoughts and change patterns. Mindfulness techniques are used to build attention and reduce reactivity. For people with strong emotions or impulsive reactions, Melissa incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to improve emotion regulation and tolerance.

When traumatic memories are a barrier, she may use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to lessen their hold. Melissa emphasizes collaboration. She works with each person to set clear, achievable goals and chooses tools that fit day-to-day life.

Her approach is practical, focused on small changes that add up over time.

Approaches that translate well to online care

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and working at the client’s pace. It focuses on understanding what matters to the person and shaping sessions around their goals. This approach helps parents feel heard and supported as they sort through parenting and family choices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical skills to change thought patterns and behaviors. Online sessions can include worksheets, real-time coaching, and homework to try between meetings. CBT is useful for anxiety, stress, and habits that affect daily family life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It includes tools for distress tolerance and communication that translate well to video or chat formats.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa collaborates with clients to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts techniques over time based on what is helpful and what feels manageable in daily life.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions around school, work, and caregiving schedules. Many clients find that shorter messages or chats between sessions help them keep progress going without added travel time.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, addictions, family and parenting issues, and career challenges. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, attachment, blended family issues, and communication problems.
What style of therapy does she use?
Her style is collaborative and practical, mixing listening with concrete skills. She uses approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and mindfulness to address thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
How much experience does she have?
Melissa has 18 years of clinical experience working with a range of life challenges. That background informs her practical, skills-focused approach.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker - with license number MI LMSW 6801089249 and practices in Michigan.
What languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options allow flexibility for different schedules and preferences.
How are costs handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific rates depend on the chosen plan.
What is the first step to begin therapy?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire. After that, schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Melissa

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