Melissa Monahan, LPC

Melissa Monahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Arizona with three years of experience in behavioral health. She has recently focused on supporting people who struggle with substance use and who are involved with the criminal justice system, often addressing co-occurring anxiety, depression, and the effects of traumatic life events that contribute to ongoing substance use.

She practices from a client-centered perspective, meeting people where they are and partnering to find practical, personalized solutions. Melissa describes herself as laid back and avoids labeling people, favoring collaborative work that draws on the client’s own knowledge and strengths. She uses motivational interviewing to explore readiness for change and to build motivation, and she applies cognitive behavioral techniques to help challenge unhelpful thoughts and increase skills for coping and problem solving.

Melissa emphasizes building confidence and identifying resolutions that make sense for each person’s situation. She acknowledges that beginning therapy can feel intimidating and encourages taking that first step toward change, offering steady, nonjudgmental support along the way.

Approach-Focused Care Delivered Online

Melissa commonly uses a client-centered approach, which prioritizes the client’s perspective and works at the client’s pace to build goals that feel meaningful. This style is helpful for people who want a supportive, nonjudgmental space to explore concerns such as relationship difficulties, stress, or recovery from trauma.

She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that helps identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts and patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, mood challenges, and for developing concrete coping skills. In addition, Melissa uses motivational interviewing to enhance readiness for change, which can be particularly useful for substance use and ambivalence about behavior change.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Melissa collaborates with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress is made. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine techniques to create an individualized plan.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options can make it easier to fit regular sessions into busy schedules, provide consistent support when in-person care is difficult, and allow ongoing skill practice and check-ins between sessions.