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LCSW

Melissa Torres, LCSW

  • Experience6 years
  • LocationVirginia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Addictions, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
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About Melissa

Melissa Torres is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Virginia with six years of experience helping people navigate depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. She emphasizes compassionate, culturally aware care and works in both English and Spanish to make therapy accessible to bilingual clients.

Background and approach

Melissa centers her work on honoring each person's story while supporting recovery from past wounds and strengthening self-worth. Her practice addresses a broad range of concerns including grief, relationship and intimacy struggles, family-of-origin issues, codependency, substance use concerns, and compassion fatigue.

She integrates evidence-based methods to help clients manage stress, improve coping with life changes, and rebuild resilience after difficult experiences. Melissa aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore emotions and develop practical skills for growth.

Therapeutic work with Melissa blends mindfulness and skills-based approaches with a focus on personal values and healing patterns that get in the way of wellbeing. She supports people in processing painful memories, improving communication, and making changes aligned with their goals, while remaining attentive to cultural context and individual strengths.

Integrating therapeutic approaches in online care

Melissa uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help people explore inner parts and their roles, fostering self-leadership and gentle curiosity about painful or protective aspects of the psyche. This approach can be useful for addressing trauma responses, shame, and internal conflicts.

She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed action while learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings. ACT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and problems that involve avoidance. Additionally, Melissa draws on client-centered therapy to create an empathetic, nonjudgmental space that prioritizes the client's perspective and strengths.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process; she works with each person to determine which methods best match their goals, needs, and preferences and adjusts strategies over time.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make ongoing therapy more accessible for people balancing work, family, or other commitments while allowing consistent therapeutic momentum.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, relationship and family problems, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career concerns, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, along with many related focuses.
What is Melissa's therapeutic style and approach?
Her style is compassionate and culturally responsive, drawing on client-centered principles and evidence-based therapies to balance skill building with emotional processing.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Melissa has six years of professional experience providing psychotherapy and support for a range of emotional and behavioral concerns.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She is an LCSW licensed in Virginia with license number VA LCSW 0904011528 and practices from that state.
In which languages can clients work with her?
Therapy is offered in English and Spanish for clients who prefer either language, and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available for online care?
Clients can choose video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs and schedule.
How are fees and payment structured?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How does someone begin working with Melissa?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

6+ years

Licensed

Virginia

Languages

English, Spanish