ChangeAtYourPace.org Need help now?

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Melissa McDonald Wertz

Melissa McDonald Wertz

LCSW, CSW

Colorado

Compassionate therapist focusing on practical change

Continue with Melissa

At a glance

Credentials
LCSW, CSW
License
LCSW, Colorado / CSW.09923891
Experience
10 years
Languages
English
Location
Colorado

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivational interviewing
    • Practical coping skills
    • Warm collaborative style

    About Melissa

    Melissa McDonald Wertz is a licensed clinical social worker in Colorado with ten years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and other life challenges. Melissa aims to make the first step feel manageable and respectful of each person's pace.

    Her style is warm and interactive. She focuses on building a trusting relationship so people feel comfortable talking about hard things and trying new ways of coping. Sessions emphasize practical tools, clearer thinking, and small steps toward goals.

    Melissa draws on a mix of approaches rather than one single method. She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and Mindfulness practices to support emotion regulation. She also incorporates solution-focused and trauma-focused ideas when those fit a person's needs.

    Her background includes both therapy and case management work over a decade. That experience informs a practical, real-world focus on day-to-day problems like sleep, parenting strain, work stress, and coping with major life transitions.

    Melissa offers straightforward guidance and collaborative planning. She helps people set achievable steps, build skills for handling setbacks, and track progress over time. Her goal is to empower clients to navigate challenges with clearer choices and more confidence.

  2. How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

    Melissa often integrates Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her sessions. Motivational Interviewing focuses on drawing out a person's own reasons for change and building motivation step by step, which can help with addictions, ambivalence about change, and goal setting. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers tools to shift unhelpful patterns, useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating concerns.

    Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to see which methods fit their goals and preferences, and adjust strategies as progress is made. Clients are involved in planning practical steps and choosing tools that feel doable in daily life.

    The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, drop in for a shorter check-in when time is limited, or avoid travel time. Licensed professionals can use these sessions to teach coping skills, run brief behavioral experiments, and maintain steady progress between in-person visits if desired.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseDepression

    Also works with

    Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

    Additional focus areas

    Hospice and end-of-life counselingVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesParanoiaPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

    Therapeutic approaches

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    10+ years

    Listed in

    Colorado

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What concerns does Melissa address?

    She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and sleeping difficulties, anger and self-esteem concerns, career and life changes, and other listed specialties.

    How would you describe her therapeutic approach?

    Her style is warm and interactive, prioritizing a strong working relationship. She uses a mix of approaches so sessions focus on practical tools and personal goals.

    What experience does she bring?

    She has ten years of experience working as a therapist and case manager, which shapes a practical, problem-solving approach to everyday life challenges.

    What credentials and region apply?

    She holds LCSW and CSW credentials and practices in Colorado.

    Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?

    Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.

    What session formats are available?

    The original biography did not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.

    How does payment or cost work?

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

    How do I begin working with her?

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

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

Back to all therapists

Melissa McDonald Wertz Continue with Melissa