- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness skills
- Client-centered care
About Melissa
Melissa Madriaga is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin with eight years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, eating and body image struggles, addiction, and anger. She also helps people coping with trauma, parenting strain, life changes, and feeling isolated.
She trained with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and has hands-on experience in community settings. That includes work with people who were incarcerated and those experiencing homelessness, and seven years of service in the United States Army Reserves. Melissa also runs a private practice called Inner Balance Counseling in Wisconsin.
In sessions she uses clear, practical methods. She draws on client-centered listening to understand what matters most. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and mindfulness strategies to build steadier attention and calm.
Melissa pays attention to real-life pressures like money worries, blended family stress, pregnancy and childbirth concerns, and the strain of raising children. She offers straightforward conversations about boundaries, control issues, commitment worries, and forgiveness. Many people come with anger or resentment that has built up over time; she helps them look at how those feelings show up and what might help reduce their frequency.
Her approach is direct and practical rather than clinical language-heavy. She invites people to try skills in day-to-day life and to notice small changes. Outside work she is a single mother, enjoys hiking, and lives in a small Wisconsin town with pets.
How Melissa uses CBT, mindfulness, and client-centered work online
Melissa commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and goal-focused, which can be useful for workplace frustration, recurring arguments, or patterns that fuel anger.She also uses mindfulness techniques to help people notice bodily signals and emotional buildup without reacting immediately. Simple breathing and attention practices are used to reduce escalation and increase choices in the moment. Client-centered work means sessions begin by listening closely to what matters most to the person and shaping the next steps from their priorities.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Melissa will collaborate with each person to test strategies and adjust methods based on goals, preferences, and how well techniques fit daily life. That process is shared and ongoing rather than one-size-fits-all.
The therapist's profile does not list specific online session formats. Confirm which formats she currently offers before booking so you know how sessions are delivered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel time. Those practical benefits help people try skills between sessions and apply them in real situations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Wisconsin
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address related to anger?
She works with adults who struggle with anger, resentment, and related relationship or workplace stress. Anger is listed among many areas she supports, including anxiety and depression.
How would she approach someone losing their temper?
She uses client-centered listening to understand triggers and goals, then applies cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try different responses.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has eight years of therapy experience, a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and experience working with incarcerated and homeless populations plus seven years in the Army Reserves.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Wisconsin and practices from Wisconsin.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Which session formats does she provide?
The original profile does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options with the therapist before booking.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Specific pricing is not listed here.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session through that process.