Melissa Mendez , LPC

Melissa Mendez is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who holds licensure in both Texas and Oklahoma and currently resides in Waco, Texas. She brings eight years of clinical experience with a strong focus on supporting families with young children, parents, and individuals coping with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and mood-related concerns. Her training and practice emphasize identifying trauma responses and helping nervous systems regulate after exposure to stress, adversity, or abuse.

Since the start of the pandemic she has developed an exclusively online practice and has provided EMDR therapy for three years, applying this evidence-based approach to address trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Her work integrates person-centered and attachment-informed perspectives with trauma-focused methods to create individualized treatment plans that balance structure and flexibility.

Melissa’s therapeutic style is warm yet direct, collaborative, and respectful of clients’ autonomy. She leans on a range of evidence-based tools including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to meet the unique needs of each person. She often works with clients who are ready for self-reflection and who want to cultivate a growth mindset as part of their healing and recovery journey.

Approaches for Online Trauma and Stress Care

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental stance that helps clients explore their values, strengths, and goals. It is helpful for building self-esteem, improving relationships, and supporting life changes by prioritizing the client’s perspective and autonomy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT offers practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills to reframe thinking patterns and develop coping techniques.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that helps people process distressing memories and reduce the intensity of trauma-related responses. Melissa has provided EMDR in her practice for several years and integrates it with other trauma-informed approaches when appropriate.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and will happen collaboratively. Melissa works with clients to assess symptoms, goals, and preferences and then tailors a plan that may combine methods to best support recovery and growth.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity across life transitions, and access licensed professionals from home or other convenient settings.