Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic, LISW

Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) practicing in Ohio with eight years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress and anxiety, substance and gambling addictions, trauma and abuse, and challenges with motivation, self-esteem, and confidence. Her background includes supporting first responders and military veterans, bringing experience with the particular stresses those roles can involve.

Melissa takes a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate approach, tailoring conversations and treatment plans to each person’s unique circumstances. She draws on a range of therapeutic methods to address mood disorders, grief, anger, codependency, dissociation, and other concerns listed in her areas of focus, matching interventions to what each client needs in the moment.

Believing that seeking help is an act of courage, Melissa aims to empower people as they pursue a more fulfilling and balanced life. She collaborates with clients to set realistic goals and supports them through the practical steps of change, offering steady guidance and encouragement along the way.

Tailored therapeutic approaches for online care

Melissa uses client-centered therapy to build a collaborative, nonjudgmental relationship where the client's priorities guide the work. This approach emphasizes active listening and respect, helping people explore goals, values, and the personal resources they already have to draw on.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is another common tool in her practice. CBT helps people identify and adjust unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and many stress-related concerns, providing practical strategies that can be used between sessions.

For clients dealing with trauma, Melissa incorporates EMDR techniques when appropriate. EMDR can assist in processing distressing memories and reducing their emotional intensity, often supporting recovery from post-traumatic stress and abuse-related symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy itself - Melissa works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts her plan as progress unfolds and as clients learn what helps them most.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, maintain continuity when schedules change, and access care from home or other convenient locations. These options offer flexibility in how and when people engage, supporting ongoing progress through formats that match individual comfort and needs.