- Trauma-informed care
- Supports bilingual clients
- Boundary building
About Laura
Laura Melendez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with ten years of practice supporting adults through stressful life moments. She helps people cope with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and relationship struggles. Laura focuses on rebuilding self-trust and setting clearer boundaries for healthier connections.
Her work often includes people recovering from domestic violence, coercive control, childhood and narcissistic abuse, and sexual assault and abuse. She also assists those facing grief, life transitions, immigration-related stress, and feelings of isolation. Codependency, attachment issues, and communication problems are common themes she addresses in sessions.
Laura describes her approach as collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. She draws on a mix of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people process painful memories, reduce symptoms, and change unhelpful patterns in relationships. The goal is to help clients notice the stories they tell about themselves and try new ways of relating to others.
Sessions emphasize practical steps - building boundaries, strengthening coping skills, and increasing self-compassion. Laura works with both English and Spanish speakers in New Jersey. She frames therapy as a joint process that centers each person’s strengths and values.
To begin, she helps clients set an individualized plan that reflects their goals. The focus is on steady, meaningful change rather than quick fixes. Those wanting to explore recovery from abuse, manage anxiety, or improve relationship patterns will find a calm, steady guide in her practice.
Approaches that help rebuild safety and connection
Laura uses a combination of evidence-based techniques in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with new behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and patterns of self-criticism. Narrative approaches help people examine the stories they carry about themselves and try out different, more empowering versions of those stories.She views finding the right approach as a collaborative process. Together, therapist and client explore what feels most useful, adjust methods as needed, and set goals that match the client's priorities and values. Decisions about techniques are made with the client's input and change over time as progress is made.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. It can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a workday, or let someone join from a location that is more convenient. Because session formats are not listed here, confirm the specific online and in-person options before booking to make sure they match your needs. Licensed professionals can adapt evidence-based work like CBT and narrative strategies effectively across different session formats.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
New Jersey
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include codependency, attachment issues, and communication problems.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. Sessions aim to be respectful and focused on practical steps like boundary building and coping skills.
What is her professional background?
She has ten years of experience working with adults on trauma, difficult relationships, and major life transitions. Her work includes supporting survivors of domestic violence and past abuse.
What credentials and region does she practice in?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in New Jersey. Her practice is based in New Jersey.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking to ensure they fit your needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.