• 1920 Thunder Road, Queenstown, NZ 94743
  • Mon - Fri 8am-8pm | Sat 9am-2pm
  • 786-501-1190

Helping followers
of Jesus live the
life He intended​.

ISAIAH 61:1-3

 
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Caring for people brings me joy!

I love to walk alongside those who are facing challenges and difficult seasons in their lives. Having served as a licensed mental health counselor in private practice for 13+ years, as well as being on staff at multiple churches, my approach is a blend of rich clinical experience combined with a pastoral heart.

I received a Psychology major, Church Ministries minor & Bible minor from Clearwater Christian College and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Since 2012, I have held my license in Mental Health Counseling in the State of Florida where I continue to serve clients virtually. For the past six years, I have additionally been practicing as a Christian life coach nationwide.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and family, having long conversations with a friend, being active outdoors, doing Bible studies, learning Spanish, reading, writing, and binge watching a good Netflix series (any good book and series recommendations are welcome). My husband and I love to eat, but not to cook. We recently welcomed home our son. This was such a joy after experiencing a few prior pregnancy losses. We love watching him discover the world and seeing his personality shine through. 

But now, it would be my great honor and pleasure to meet and learn about YOU. In our time together, you are my priority. I look forward to knowing you more!

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Areas of Practice

My specializations within the field have been cultivated through a combination of formal education, clinical experience, and personal life experience. My approach to counseling and coaching acknowledges the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that contribute to a person’s overall functioning.

A comprehensive approach that addresses the multidimensional nature of people and relationships typically yields equally comprehensive results.

  • Adjustment
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Burnout
  • Coping Skills
  • Codependency
  • Compulsive Behaviors
  • Discouragement
  • Divorce Recovery​
  • Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating, Orthorexia)
  • Grief
  • Faith/Spiritual Concerns
  • Infertility/ Miscarriage / Pregnancy Loss
  • Marriage/Couples
  • Ministry/Leadership Challenges
  • Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
  • Premarital
  • Pregnancy & Postpartum
  • Relationship Issues​
  • Self-Image
  • Sexual Abuse
  • ​Transition
  • Trauma
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
"CHANGED MY LIFE"
"Melissa has truly helped me change my life. I've gone to other counselors that made me feel as though I was just another paycheck or that they really were not listening to me at all. I've never had a counselor show so much genuine concern, concern that I felt and saw in her eyes; I never felt this with any other counselor in 15 years of counseling!!! I have learned more from her than I did from all the other counselors and doctors I have seen. God has blessed her with the most compassionate and caring heart I've ever seen, and she is the greatest counselor I've ever worked with."
-R.C.
"STRENGTH & TRUTH"
"Melissa is a woman of strength and truth. She looks people in the eye and really listens to them; she accepts people for who they are and where they are at in life. Her razor sharp perception is balanced by a joyous sense of humor. She walks beside those she counsels with compassion. Melissa is passionately dedicated to assisting others through the difficult times and pointing them to a hope and a future."
- R.S
"PEACE AND CLARITY"
"I have never felt so free and at peace in my entire life! I feel like my thoughts are clearer than they have ever been. I feel happier than I have ever felt. I pray that God will give me opportunities in the future to impact people to the depth that I was impacted in my sessions with Melissa."
-C.C.
"LOVE AND COMPASSION"
"Melissa not only has the degree to help people work through their problems, but she also has an overabundance of sincere love and compassion for people. She has a God-given desire to help people and has walked beside me and helped me work through my issues. I now understand what is causing my behavior and I also have the tools I need to work through unhealthy behaviors and correct them."
-R.C.
"EXPRESS MYSELF"
"As a result of Melissa's counseling I am thankful to be able to express myself and not be judged, as well as experiencing life without anger...while still making the right decisions when put in uncomfortable situations."
-J.S.
"CHANGED MY LIFE"
"Melissa has truly helped me change my life. I've gone to other counselors that made me feel as though I was just another paycheck or that they really were not listening to me at all. I've never had a counselor show so much genuine concern, concern that I felt and saw in her eyes; I never felt this with any other counselor in 15 years of counseling!!! I have learned more from her than I did from all the other counselors and doctors I have seen. God has blessed her with the most compassionate and caring heart I've ever seen, and she is the greatest counselor I've ever worked with."
-R.C.
"STRENGTH & TRUTH"
"Melissa is a woman of strength and truth. She looks people in the eye and really listens to them; she accepts people for who they are and where they are at in life. Her razor sharp perception is balanced by a joyous sense of humor. She walks beside those she counsels with compassion. Melissa is passionately dedicated to assisting others through the difficult times and pointing them to a hope and a future."
- R.S
"PEACE AND CLARITY"
"I have never felt so free and at peace in my entire life! I feel like my thoughts are clearer than they have ever been. I feel happier than I have ever felt. I pray that God will give me opportunities in the future to impact people to the depth that I was impacted in my sessions with Melissa."
-C.C.
"LOVE AND COMPASSION"
"Melissa not only has the degree to help people work through their problems, but she also has an overabundance of sincere love and compassion for people. She has a God-given desire to help people and has walked beside me and helped me work through my issues. I now understand what is causing my behavior and I also have the tools I need to work through unhealthy behaviors and correct them."
-R.C.
"EXPRESS MYSELF"
"As a result of Melissa's counseling I am thankful to be able to express myself and not be judged, as well as experiencing life without anger...while still making the right decisions when put in uncomfortable situations."
-J.S.
"CHANGED MY LIFE"
"Melissa has truly helped me change my life. I've gone to other counselors that made me feel as though I was just another paycheck or that they really were not listening to me at all. I've never had a counselor show so much genuine concern, concern that I felt and saw in her eyes; I never felt this with any other counselor in 15 years of counseling!!! I have learned more from her than I did from all the other counselors and doctors I have seen. God has blessed her with the most compassionate and caring heart I've ever seen, and she is the greatest counselor I've ever worked with."
-R.C.
"STRENGTH & TRUTH"
"Melissa is a woman of strength and truth. She looks people in the eye and really listens to them; she accepts people for who they are and where they are at in life. Her razor sharp perception is balanced by a joyous sense of humor. She walks beside those she counsels with compassion. Melissa is passionately dedicated to assisting others through the difficult times and pointing them to a hope and a future."
- R.S
"PEACE AND CLARITY"
"I have never felt so free and at peace in my entire life! I feel like my thoughts are clearer than they have ever been. I feel happier than I have ever felt. I pray that God will give me opportunities in the future to impact people to the depth that I was impacted in my sessions with Melissa."
-C.C.
"LOVE AND COMPASSION"
"Melissa not only has the degree to help people work through their problems, but she also has an overabundance of sincere love and compassion for people. She has a God-given desire to help people and has walked beside me and helped me work through my issues. I now understand what is causing my behavior and I also have the tools I need to work through unhealthy behaviors and correct them."
-R.C.
"EXPRESS MYSELF"
"As a result of Melissa's counseling I am thankful to be able to express myself and not be judged, as well as experiencing life without anger...while still making the right decisions when put in uncomfortable situations."
-J.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all sessions online? How does it work?

All counseling and coaching services are provided virtually. When you schedule an appointment, you will receive via email a Zoom link where you can join your session at the scheduled time. You will also receive via email electronic forms to be completed prior to your first session.

What are your business hours?

Monday: 10-6 | Tuesday 10-6 | Wednesday 10-6 | Thursday 10-6 | Friday 10-6 | Saturday 10-2

Do you take insurance?

My services are not eligible for insurance coverage.

What are your session times and rates?

All sessions are 50 minutes in duration. 

$135 individuals / $150 for couples

What Is Licensed Mental Health Counseling?

Christian licensed mental health counseling typically involves a licensed therapist who integrates Christian faith into their practice while adhering to professional counseling standards and ethical guidelines. Licensed mental health counseling typically involves working with individuals who are experiencing psychological distress, mental health disorders, or emotional challenges. Counselors are trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based therapeutic techniques. They often work within a clinical or healthcare setting and must adhere to strict ethical and legal guidelines.

What is Pastoral Life Coaching?

On the other hand, pastoral life coaching focuses more on helping individuals set and achieve goals to improve their overall quality of life and enhance their functioning from a Christian perspective. This could include various areas such as relationships, career, faith walk, and personal development. Life coaches typically do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions but instead focus on helping clients make beneficial changes in their lives through goal-setting, accountability, and encouragement. Life coaching is not regulated in the same way as mental health counseling and is not considered part of personal medical care.