IFSTherapists

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LPC

Melissa Strauss, LPC

  • Experience13 years
  • LocationPennsylvania
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Melissa

Melissa Strauss is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 13 years of clinical experience working with people navigating stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, grief, depression, and identity-related concerns.

Background and approach

She draws on a warm, engaging manner and centers clients' strengths to build collaborative work that respects each person's pace and goals. Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns including intimacy-related issues, eating and sleeping problems, parenting and blended family dynamics, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and life changes such as fertility and career transitions.

Her style blends evidence-informed therapies with a focus on attachment, internal parts work, and practical skills. Melissa tailors interventions to each client, integrating Internal Family Systems alongside cognitive and acceptance-based strategies when helpful.

She also brings client-centered principles and attachment-based perspectives to help people understand relational patterns and repair communication. Melissa accepts international clients and offers sessions designed to fit varied schedules and needs, emphasizing partnership and flexibility throughout the therapeutic process.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites clients to explore and relate to different internal parts with curiosity and compassion, helping people understand inner conflicts and reduce self-criticism. This approach can be useful for trauma responses, identity work, chronic anxiety, and complex emotional patterns.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values, developing psychological flexibility, and learning to live with uncomfortable thoughts or feelings while pursuing meaningful action. It is often applied to anxiety, stress, depression, and challenges with motivation or life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melissa works collaboratively to determine which methods best match a client's goals, needs, and preferences. She integrates IFS, ACT, attachment-based perspectives, CBT, and client-centered techniques as appropriate, adjusting style and pace through ongoing conversation with each person.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to connect from different locations. These formats support consistent, accessible care while allowing licensed professionals to use experiential, cognitive, and relational methods effectively across distance.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Melissa help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, grief, identity and LGBT concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy and eating or sleeping issues, and challenges like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and parenting or fertility stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The approach is warm and engaging, emphasizing partnership and clients' strengths while tailoring techniques to each person’s needs and preferences.
What is her background and experience level?
She has 13 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families on a wide range of emotional and relational issues.
Where is she licensed to practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with license numbers PA LPC PC008592 and NJ LPC 37PC00767200, and she practices from Pennsylvania.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she does accept international clients.
What session formats are available for online work?
Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on scheduling and preference.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

13+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania, New Jersey

Languages

English