IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LPC

Melissa Harris, LPC

  • Experience8 years
  • LocationTennessee
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Family, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Continue with Melissa

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About Melissa

Melissa Harris is an LPC licensed in Tennessee with eight years of clinical experience helping people navigate complex emotional and interpersonal challenges.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a compassionate, whole-person approach that integrates evidence-based methods to address stress, anxiety, trauma and grief, ADHD, addictions, and a broad range of relationship and self-esteem concerns. Her practice is informed by several therapeutic frameworks including Internal Family Systems, ACT, attachment-focused work, client-centered care, and cognitive strategies.

Melissa creates a collaborative environment where clients explore their history, patterns, and present-day difficulties while building practical skills for coping and change. She supports work on intimacy and communication challenges, parenting and family tensions, life transitions, and issues like compassion fatigue and chronic health-related stress.

Sessions aim to clarify values, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop actionable steps toward improved wellbeing. Clients can expect personalized treatment that honors individual experiences and goals.

Melissa guides each person through tailored interventions and skill-building so they can process past wounds, reduce symptoms that interfere with daily life, and pursue sustainable growth.

Integrating talk therapy and practical tools online



Internal Family Systems (IFS) views the mind as made up of distinct parts that carry emotions, beliefs, and memories; the work involves getting to know these parts, soothing reactive subparts, and strengthening the client’s core self so they can respond differently to stress, trauma, and relational patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and building psychological flexibility, teaching clients how to notice difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with what matters to them. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early bonds shape expectations and emotional responses in relationships, helping clients understand and revise patterns that interfere with intimacy and communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Melissa collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they assess progress and adjust techniques so therapy stays aligned with the client’s changing concerns and strengths.

Online therapy with Melissa uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to increase accessibility and flexibility. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, continue work between meetings, and maintain continuity of care across distances while working with licensed professionals who tailor treatment to each individual's situation.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Melissa address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, ADHD, addictions, relationship and intimacy challenges, eating concerns, depression, and coping with life changes.
What is Melissa's therapeutic style like?
Her approach blends compassion with practical skills and draws from evidence-based therapies to help clients understand patterns, increase emotional regulation, and move toward meaningful change.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Melissa has eight years of experience providing therapy and has worked with many different presenting concerns during that time.
Where is Melissa licensed to practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Tennessee, holding licence TN LPC 6019.
Can clients who live outside the United States work with her?
International clients are accepted, and she conducts sessions in English for those who live abroad.
What session formats are available with Melissa?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions operate through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in beginning therapy with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefADHD

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Tennessee

Languages

English