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Melissa Averett

Melissa Averett, LPC

Therapist in Louisiana · 14+ years of experience

Compassionate counselor focused on practical change

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  • Client-centered approach
  • CBT techniques
  • Practical coping skills

About Melissa

Melissa Averett is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Louisiana with 14 years of clinical work. She earned a master’s degree in education counseling from Southeastern Louisiana University and has supported people through addiction recovery, outpatient care, and life transitions. Melissa focuses on practical steps people can use to feel steadier and more in control.

She draws on client-centered methods to build trust and help people name their goals. That means sessions start with listening and working together to decide what matters most. Melissa also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot thought patterns that feed anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or stress and to replace them with more helpful thinking.

Her background includes four years in a residential program for women recovering from addiction and nine years providing outpatient counseling for adults. She helps people facing grief, trauma, relationship problems, parenting strain, sleep difficulties, and major life changes.

In sessions she teaches practical skills such as boundary-setting, assertive communication, healthy coping strategies, and how to weigh choices and consequences. She explains steps clearly and focuses on skills a person can try between meetings.

Melissa aims to offer warmth and empathy while tackling hard topics. People who want straightforward guidance on stress, anxiety, or rebuilding confidence may find her style direct, supportive, and goal-focused.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Experience

14+ years

Credentials

Louisiana

Languages

English

How Melissa Uses Client-Centered and CBT Online

Melissa uses client-centered therapy to prioritize the person’s experience and goals. That approach focuses on listening, reflecting what’s important, and helping someone name the issues they want to change. It can be helpful for building trust and deciding practical next steps.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT helps people spot unhelpful thought patterns and practice new ways of thinking that reduce anxiety, improve mood, and support better sleep or coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will collaborate with each person to choose techniques that match their needs and preferences, adjusting plans as progress is made. She aims to make therapy feel like a shared project rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription.

Session logistics and formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and support more consistent appointments during life transitions. Licensed professionals often find that these practical benefits help people stay engaged with their goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Melissa commonly address?

Her practice covers stress, anxiety, self-esteem, depression, addiction recovery, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, parenting strain, anger, bipolar concerns, compassion fatigue, and ADHD among other issues.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

She uses a client-centered approach to build rapport and set goals together, paired with cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and behavior.

What is her clinical background?

She has 14 years of experience, including four years in a residential program for women in addiction recovery and nine years providing outpatient counseling to adults.

What credentials and region apply to this therapist?

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Louisiana.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Are international clients accepted?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps start the process of working together?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

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