Meet Melissa

Hello, and welcome to A+ Wellness!

I’m Melissa and I am so glad you are here seeking a fit for your therapeutic needs. I am a strong advocate for my clients, working alongside them to build on the strengths they already embody. I work with clients of all ages- children, teens and adults- both individually and within group settings. With child clients, I work in collaboration with parents/caregivers. Similarly, I am open to incorporating your support system into our work to ensure your success outside of the therapeutic setting. I primarily utilize client-centered, solution-focused, strengths-based therapeutic approaches alongside talk therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I believe that you are at the center of decision-making, and as part of your team I will meet you where you’re at in regards to your needs. I will also incorporate the Christian faith at your request.

I work with clients experiencing needs in the areas of ADHD, adjustment disorders, anxiety, behavior improvement, individual relationship counseling, self-image and social skills.

I graduated from Monmouth College with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. I taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades over the course of my teaching career. Through my time in the classroom, I recognized that children need to feel safe socially, emotionally and physically to best access their learning and potential. This led to an exploration of the right position that would help people gain access to a safe space to build new skills, and I found social work. I obtained my Master's of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams School of Social Work. Between my teaching and school social work career, I was a case manager at a medical residential facility, as well as a school and community consultant on digital safety for the IL Attorney General. Over the past 8 years, I’ve been a school social worker both in the junior high and elementary settings. I received my Licensed Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW) in 2022, and began my private practice work in January of 2023. 

In my free time, I can be found cooking, spending time with my family & friends, traveling, and experiencing new adventures.