- Guilt and shame work
- CBT and DBT tools
- Motivational interviewing
About Melissa
Melissa Button is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York with 15 years of experience. She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, low self-esteem, depression, and compassion fatigue, among other concerns. Melissa frames her work around guilt and shame when those feelings come up in therapy. She offers help with caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and substance use issues.
She begins by building rapport and listening to what matters most to each person. Sessions focus on identifying meaningful goals and practical steps toward them. Melissa uses a person-centered stance that centers the client's experience and strengths.
Her methods include cognitive behavioral techniques to challenge unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns. She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation and mindfulness practices to increase present-moment awareness. Motivational interviewing is used to explore readiness for change without pressure.
In sessions she helps people name where guilt or shame show up, link those feelings to behaviors or relationships, and practice alternative responses. Work might include coping strategies for anxiety, relapse prevention for addictions, or problem-solving around work and money stress.
Melissa describes clients as the experts on their stories and focuses on building tools you can use outside sessions. She works in English from New York and applies evidence-informed approaches to everyday challenges.
How her approaches translate to online work
Melissa uses client-centered therapy to listen first and follow what matters most to each person. That approach focuses on the client's experience and builds on their strengths to set goals and make practical changes.She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and problem-focused, helpful for anxiety, mood concerns, and patterns linked to guilt or shame. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness when intense feelings arise.
Finding the best approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with clients to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions can include skills practice, behavior experiments, and motivational conversations to support change.
Confirm current session formats before booking, as the biography did not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, shorten travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals often adapt exercises and homework so people can apply tools between sessions without disrupting daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, low self-esteem, depression, compassion fatigue, and related issues such as caregiver stress, chronic pain, codependency, and workplace problems.
How does she approach guilt and shame in therapy?
She helps people identify where guilt or shame show up and links those feelings to thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. Work often includes practicing alternative responses and building coping skills.
What is her professional background?
She has 15 years of clinical experience working with anxiety, mood concerns, and substance use issues across various settings.
What credential and location does she hold?
Melissa is an LMHC licensed in New York and practices from that state.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats were not specified in the biography.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started if I want to work with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.