Melanie Giarratano , LMHC, LCMHC

Melanie Giarratano is a licensed mental health counselor who blends research-informed insight with practical clinical experience to support people navigating stress, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, mood disorders, and life transitions. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY College at Old Westbury, training that underpins both her understanding of the brain's response to stress and her clinical skills.

During undergraduate research, Melanie studied PTSD in animal models, an experience that shaped her appreciation for how trauma can alter fear responses and emotional regulation. That background informs her current work in an inpatient psychiatric setting with individuals who have significant trauma histories. Her graduate training emphasized psychodynamic perspectives on development, family systems, and transference, and she draws on that knowledge to understand each person's unique life context and relational patterns.

Melanie works with adults, teenagers, children, veterans, people with substance use concerns, and individuals with developmental disabilities, offering both individual and group therapy in inpatient and outpatient environments. She uses a flexible, client-centered approach that incorporates multiple evidence-based methods. Motivational interviewing guides goal setting and readiness for change, client-centered techniques provide supportive, nonjudgmental encouragement, and cognitive behavioral strategies help motivated clients identify and restructure unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises like thought logs and skills practice. She emphasizes solution-focused work and encourages self-care as an essential part of recovery and well-being. Melanie holds LMHC and LCMHC licenses, indicating her credentials as a licensed mental health counselor. In her personal time she practices yoga, rides her bike, spends time with family and friends, and enjoys being outdoors with her dog.

Online Therapeutic Approaches and Flexible Care

Melanie integrates several practical approaches to treatment that translate well to remote settings. Motivational interviewing is a goal-oriented, collaborative method that helps people explore their readiness for change and build motivation to take concrete steps forward. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathic listening and support, providing encouragement and a nonjudgmental space for clients to process emotions and clarify personal goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors and learn concrete strategies - such as thought records and behavioral experiments - to shift those patterns and improve day-to-day functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melanie works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so therapy remains practical, focused, and responsive to progress.

Online sessions - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - offer practical flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limitations, or those living outside the therapist's immediate area. These options allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent therapeutic support across different formats while helping clients access care in ways that fit their lives.