- Warm and interactive
- Trauma-informed growth
- Skills focused
About Melissa
Dr. Melissa Chovan brings 13 years of hands-on therapy experience to this practice. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who offers practical, down-to-earth help for people feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Her work focuses on common struggles like anxiety, depression, stress, grief, and relationship concerns, and she also lists codependency among her additional focus areas.
She has worked in a wide range of settings, including community mental health, state prison, services for child protective cases, residential programs for at-risk youth, and private practice. That background gives her experience with trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other complex situations. She has also done online and in-person teaching.
Her clinical toolbox includes client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness therapy, and motivational interviewing. She is actively working toward specializing in trauma and has trained in several trauma-focused methods over the past year.
In sessions she aims to be warm, respectful, and interactive. She emphasizes hope, teaching practical skills, and building a strong working relationship. Her approach is collaborative: she listens, then helps people pick strategies that fit their life and goals.
People seeking help with life changes, parenting strain, workplace stress, or symptoms tied to past hurt can expect a straightforward, supportive process. If someone wants to be heard and to learn tools for change, Dr. Chovan offers steady guidance and practical steps forward.
How specific approaches translate to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and helping people shape their own goals. It emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship and is useful for concerns like low mood, life transitions, or trouble making changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It often involves setting small goals, practicing new skills between sessions, and tracking progress for issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete tools for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and reducing harmful reactions. It can help with anger, overwhelming stress, and difficulties with emotion regulation.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss current needs, preferences, and goals, and then recommend one or a mix of methods. That collaborative process helps tailor sessions to what actually helps the client in day-to-day life.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available online options before booking. Many people find remote sessions useful for fitting therapy into busy schedules, shortening travel time, or making it easier to keep regular appointments. The therapist can help identify practical ways to make sessions work with the client's routine and responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Credentials
Alabama, Georgia, Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns are addressed here?
Areas listed include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy concerns, parenting, career matters, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and codependency among others.
What is the therapy style like in sessions?
The style is described as warm, respectful, and interactive with an emphasis on teaching skills, building hope, and working collaboratively toward goals.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The clinician has 13 years of experience as a therapist and has worked across settings such as community mental health, state prison, residential programs, child protective services, and private practice.
What credentials and location are listed for the therapist?
Credentials shown are LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) and LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). The therapist is based in Alabama.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist 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.