MELISSA GILBERT, CT

Melissa Gilbert (pronouns: she/her) is a counselor trainee who works with adults. Her specialty interests include: communication and conflict resolution, LGBTQ+ and gender-related issues, mood disorders, trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based stress reduction, anxiety, depression, co-dependency, wellness, and integrating creativity and positive psychology into counseling practice. She utilizes treatment approaches that are evidence-based and uniquely tailored to each client.

Melissa completed her advanced education at The University of Akron, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in women’s studies. She is currently a master’s student at Malone University completing a degree in clinical mental health counseling. She is committed to continuously expanding her knowledge through educational experiences and opportunities.

Prior to private practice, Melissa was a program coordinator and group facilitator at Ascend Services in Canton for five years.

In these roles, she developed a monthly calendar of educational and support group meetings for peers related to mental health and wellness. These experiences ignited her passion for deep connections with others and cultivated her ability to make people feel understood. There, she learned the crucial motto “we don’t recovery alone.”

Melissa’s approach to counseling is holistic, relational, and emotion-focused because she believes that personal growth is the result of empowering connections that are rooted in safety, authenticity, vulnerability, and mutual respect. In addition to being a non-judgmental, compassionate listener she is a collaborative strength-builder and problem-solver. Melissa strives to create a space where clients feel comfortable exploring and expressing their emotions. She is known for using humor, psychoeducation, metaphors, and unconditional positive regard.

Her strengths include: patience, empathy, kindness, social intelligence, a love of learning, genuineness, compassion, humor, insight, open-mindedness, creativity, and attentiveness.