Melissa Madriaga, LPC - Therapist in Wisconsin

About Melissa

Melissa Madriaga is a licensed professional counselor who aims to help people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or changes in life. She presents a calm, practical style and invites straightforward conversations about eating concerns, self-esteem, anger, and addictive behaviors. Parents worried about parenting challenges or family tensions will find a direct, down-to-earth approach.

Sessions are offered in English and take place online in Wisconsin practice settings. Melissa brings eight years of counseling work and varied experience across different settings.

Background and approach

She trained in clinical mental health counseling, earning a master’s degree from Walden University. Melissa also served seven years in the United States Army Reserves and has worked with people affected by incarceration and housing instability. In sessions she uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behavioral patterns.

She combines that with client-centered techniques that prioritize each person’s priorities and pace. Mindfulness and narrative approaches are also part of her toolbox when helpful. Her background includes focused work with eating and food-related struggles, body image concerns, trauma and abuse, and life transitions like pregnancy and childbirth.

Melissa describes her practice as practical and respectful, aiming to help clients build coping skills and clearer choices. Outside of work she is a single mother who enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring Wisconsin. Those personal interests inform a grounded, relatable way of talking through problems and planning next steps.

How Melissa’s Approaches Work Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following each person’s priorities. The therapist reflects what matters to the client and helps set goals at a comfortable pace. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors you repeat and teaches practical skills to shift them. CBT is useful for anxiety, mood changes, and many everyday problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will collaborate with the client to see what methods fit their goals and comfort level. She checks in about what helps and adjusts the plan together as progress or new needs appear.

Online therapy makes these approaches easier to access. Video calls allow conversations that resemble in-person sessions. Phone, live chat, and text-based messaging offer more flexible ways to connect between busy schedules. These options help people keep therapy consistent while fitting it around family, work, or travel.

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.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, eating and food-related issues, self-esteem, addictions, anger, parenting, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes.

How would she describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is practical and client-centered. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to teach clear steps clients can try between sessions.

What is her professional background?

Melissa has eight years of counseling experience and has worked in settings that include support for people affected by incarceration and homelessness. She also served seven years in the United States Army Reserves.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She is a licensed professional counselor - WI LPC 7586-125 - practicing in Wisconsin.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats does she offer?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How are sessions paid for?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What should I do to begin working together?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Eating disorders
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 8 years
Licensed: Wisconsin
Languages: English

Next step

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