- Client-centered focus
- Behavioral change tools
- Mindfulness practice
About Melissa
Melissa Sonthonax is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida. She brings a practical, person-focused approach to therapy and helps people build skills for everyday challenges like anxiety, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
She has ten years of experience working with a range of concerns including stress, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, addiction, and panic attacks. Melissa helps clients set clear, achievable goals and focuses on changes people can make in daily life to feel better and more confident.
Her style is collaborative and straightforward. Sessions emphasize concrete steps and behavioral changes alongside exploration of feelings and personal history. Melissa often uses techniques from client-centered work, cognitive behavioral methods, mindfulness, and narrative strategies to tailor plans to each person.
She pays attention to patterns such as attachment difficulties, abandonment fears, and codependency, and supports people who struggle with guilt, shame, isolation, or impulsivity. Financial and career worries, questions of life purpose, and challenges around communication are also common topics she addresses.
Clients can expect an individualized plan and a calm space to talk through concerns. Melissa guides people to build strengths, practice new habits, and set goals that fit their daily lives.
Approaches that guide online work and goals
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and shaping sessions around what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard and build self-directed goals that reflect their values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and actions link to feeling better, and it is useful for anxiety, panic, and low mood by teaching practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness Therapy brings attention to the present moment and simple practices that reduce reactivity and help manage stress and impulsivity.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works with each person to pick methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice is collaborative and may change as someone makes progress or encounters new challenges.
Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, such as using a short check-in during a lunch break, avoiding travel time, or choosing a format that requires less bandwidth. These practical benefits help people practice new skills between meetings and keep momentum going toward their goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Melissa address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, addictions, low self-esteem, career and money concerns, and related areas such as codependency, attachment, and panic attacks.
What is her therapy style like?
Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth, focusing on practical steps, goal setting, and noticing patterns that affect daily life.
How long has she been practicing?
Melissa has ten years of experience in the mental health field supporting people with a range of common concerns.
What credentials does she hold and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, licensed in Florida and practices there.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients supported?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and 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.