- Strengths-based care
- Breath and body practices
- Skills for daily life
About Melissa
Melissa Timlin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with ten years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. Melissa draws on practical tools to help people feel steadier and make manageable changes.
She combines talk therapy with movement and breath practices. That can include restorative yoga basics, simple body-scan meditation, and breathwork alongside therapies that focus on thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Melissa frames clients as the experts in their own lives and aims to build on existing strengths rather than replace them.
Her background includes service in the U.S. Navy, where she worked on drug and alcohol program advising and served as a victim advocate. Those roles shaped her approach to addiction and trauma-related concerns. She also has experience supporting people through chronic illness, caregiver stress, aging-related issues, and codependency challenges.
In sessions she uses techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to reshape unhelpful thinking and build coping skills. Attachment-Based Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) inform how she looks at relationships and values-driven change. Melissa adapts methods to what a person needs most on a given day.
Her style is straightforward and practical. She helps people set small goals, practice new skills between sessions, and notice progress over time. To begin, Melissa asks about current challenges and what the person hopes to change, then tailors a clear plan that fits daily life.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts without getting stuck in them and focus on actions that match their values. It is often useful for anxiety, low motivation, and when someone wants clearer goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns; it is commonly used for stress, depression, and anxiety. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationship patterns influence current reactions and communication, and can help people understand responses linked to abandonment or attachment concerns.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what feels helpful, then blend methods as needed. That collaborative process lets the plan change over time as progress is made.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that learning skills and practicing breath or body exercises works well over virtual sessions when a therapist guides the steps. Ask about what session types are available so scheduling fits your daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Missouri
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Melissa help with?
She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, low self-esteem, and depression, along with related issues such as codependency, chronic illness, and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is practical and collaborative, mixing talk therapy with breath and body techniques and skills work to build coping strategies you can use between sessions.
What is her professional background?
Melissa has ten years of counseling experience and served ten years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, where she worked in drug and alcohol program advising and victim advocacy.
Which credentials and region apply to her practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with licenses in Michigan and Missouri and practices out of Missouri.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and 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.