Melanie Fikse , LPCC

Melanie Fikse is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) practicing in California who invites people to take the first courageous steps toward change when they feel stuck or worn down by life. She centers her work on a trauma-informed perspective and brings a client-centered, collaborative, and strength-based approach to sessions, helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, grief, childhood and adult trauma, bipolar disorder, and personality concerns. She emphasizes practical skills alongside compassionate support, believing that each person has inner strengths that can be identified and strengthened to support growth and healing.

Melanie earned a master’s degree from New York University and spent many years providing therapy in a community mental health clinic in New York City, focusing on underserved populations. Since relocating to California, she has practiced in a rural community where she values the calm of the surrounding trees. Her clinical toolkit includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), EMDR, psychodynamic interventions, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness and meditation practices. She is comfortable working with significant trauma histories and is an ally to the LGBTQ community.

Warmth and a passion for therapeutic work inform her practice, and she considers it a privilege to support people as they navigate both challenges and moments of joy. Melanie offers supportive, evidence-informed care aimed at helping clients feel seen, develop practical strategies, and move toward a more fulfilling life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Melanie Fikse

Melanie uses several evidence-informed methods to tailor work to each person's needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and it supports choosing actions that align with personal values to build a meaningful life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and teaches practical strategies to shift those patterns, often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Client-Centered Therapy concentrates on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the therapist reflects and clarifies so clients can explore their own strengths, values, and goals.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process. Melanie collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit best based on their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time as the work evolves. This collaborative stance helps ensure therapy feels relevant and respectful of individual differences.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility for people balancing work, family, and life obligations. Melanie provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make scheduling easier, allow continuity when travel or relocation occurs, and provide multiple ways to receive support between sessions. Licensed professionals and therapists can use these formats to deliver consistent, tailored care that fits into busy lives.