Melissa Vallia, LPC

Melissa Vallia brings a deep personal commitment to counseling that grew from the support she received during difficult seasons in her own life. Her background includes service as a Chaplain Assistant in the USAF, work with Goodwill Industries, and leadership roles in her local church - experiences that shaped her desire to guide others through loss and life transitions. The decision to pursue counseling came after personal experience with loss and a wish to help others navigate similar challenges.

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC - holding a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Melissa has provided counseling to individuals, couples, and groups in both office settings and through telehealth. Her practice focuses on stress and anxiety, addictions, parenting concerns, depression, and coping with life changes, with additional attention to communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, social anxiety and phobia, and workplace issues.

Melissa approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, tailoring conversations and treatment plans to the individual needs of clients. She aims to meet people where they are and support them as they move toward the changes they want in life, offering encouragement and practical guidance along the way.

Therapeutic Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Melissa uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, empathetic space where the client’s own goals and values guide the work. This approach emphasizes listening, validation, and collaboration, and is often helpful for people facing life changes, grief, or relationship concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is used to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors in ways that reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

Solution-focused therapy is brief and goal-oriented, concentrating on clients’ strengths and immediate steps they can take to move toward their goals. It can be especially useful for addressing specific challenges like parenting issues, workplace problems, or short-term life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Melissa will work collaboratively with clients to assess their needs, preferences, and goals and then tailor methods that fit each person. Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and options for live chat or text-based messaging make it easier to fit support into a busy life. These formats expand access to care and help maintain continuity of treatment when in-person sessions are not possible.