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Melissa Reyerson-Slifer

Melissa Reyerson-Slifer

LISW, LCSW

California

Compassionate, practical therapy for life challenges

Continue with Melissa

At a glance

Credentials
LISW, LCSW
License
LISW, Iowa / 090798; LCSW, California / 121273
Experience
5 years
Languages
English
Location
California

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

    • Anxiety and stress
    • Relationship support
    • Motivational approach

    About Melissa

    Melissa Reyerson-Slifer is a licensed social worker who helps people facing anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma, and stress. She keeps things straightforward and calm, offering a steady presence while clients talk through current struggles and set practical goals. Melissa holds LISW and LCSW credentials and works from California.

    With five years of direct therapy experience and more than a decade in the mental health field, she uses clear, evidence-based approaches to guide sessions. Conversations are client-led and focused on what matters most to the person in front of her. She aims to make space for difficult feelings and to help clients notice small changes that add up over time.

    Melissa draws on motivational interviewing to help people find their own reasons for change. She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and client-centered methods to keep the session focused on the client’s priorities. Mindfulness practices and the Gottman Method may also be part of the work when appropriate.

    In practical terms, Melissa helps people build coping skills for panic, social anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, and dissociation. She also supports those dealing with grief, hoarding concerns, bipolar mood shifts, and intimacy-related issues. The work often mixes skill-building, reflective conversation, and short-term problem solving.

    To begin, prospective clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability. Melissa communicates in English and sees clients in California.

  2. How Melissa’s approaches translate to online therapy

    Melissa often uses motivational interviewing to help people uncover their own reasons for change. This approach focuses on gentle questioning and reflection to build motivation for moving forward, which can be useful for goals like reducing avoidance or strengthening commitment to treatment.

    She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, a practical method that looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT sessions typically include simple exercises and homework to test new ways of thinking and to practice coping skills between meetings. Client-centered techniques focus sessions on the person's priorities and pace, creating room for open conversation and emotional reflection.

    Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

    If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available session formats when booking since the therapist's biography does not list them explicitly. Online therapy can make scheduling easier and help fit sessions into a busy life, reduce commute time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and support continuity of care when in-person visits are difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt the work above to remote settings while focusing on clients' goals and practical skills.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

    Also works with

    LGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changes

    Additional focus areas

    DissociationHoardingObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSocial anxiety and phobia

    Therapeutic approaches

    Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    5+ years

    Listed in

    Iowa, California

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What kinds of concerns does Melissa help with?

    She supports people coping with anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, grief, and stress. Additional focus areas include panic, OCD-related issues, dissociation, hoarding, phobias, and bipolar-related challenges.

    What is her therapeutic style like?

    Sessions are collaborative and client-centered with practical steps. She uses motivational interviewing to highlight personal goals and CBT to address thinking and behavior patterns.

    How much clinical experience does she have?

    She has five years of direct therapy experience and over ten years working in the mental health field in various roles.

    What are her credentials and where is she based?

    She holds LISW and LCSW credentials and practices in California.

    Which languages are supported for sessions?

    Sessions are offered in English.

    Can people outside the U.S. work with her?

    International clients are not currently accepted.

    How does payment and pricing work?

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

    What should I do to start therapy?

    Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions 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

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Melissa Reyerson-Slifer Continue with Melissa