Therapist profile
Melissa Fernald, LCSW
Maine
LCSW - Anger and Stress-focused therapy
Continue with MelissaKey details
- CredentialsLCSW
- LicenseLCSW, Maine / LC18215; LCSW, New Hampshire / 5092
- NPI1598070591
- Experience25 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationMaine
About
- ACT and CBT
- DBT skills
- Attachment work
About Melissa
Melissa Fernald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Maine with 25 years of clinical experience. She has worked in hospitals, community programs, and private practice settings. Melissa focuses on practical help for people dealing with stress, anxiety, anger, addiction, relationship and intimacy concerns, depression, ADHD, parenting and related life changes.
She prefers a brief and focused way of working. Sessions aim to build on existing strengths and add clear skills for handling problems that come up day to day. Melissa values direct conversation, honesty, and a straightforward style with a bit of humor when it fits.
Her approach combines cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance and commitment ideas and attachment-informed work. She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills and client-centered conversation to help people learn new ways to respond to strong emotions. That mix is intended to be practical rather than theoretical.
Melissa commonly helps people who feel stuck by teaching concrete strategies for emotion regulation, communication, and impulse control. She also supports those facing trauma, addiction, caregiver stress, blended family concerns, and complex life transitions. Sessions emphasize skill-building and steps that can be used between meetings.
People who prefer clear feedback and a steady, down-to-earth clinician often find this style helpful. Before booking, readers should confirm the current session formats and scheduling steps listed on the service site.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on clarifying values and taking small committed actions toward what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches specific skills to change unhelpful habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills train emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness for high-intensity feelings.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which strategies to try and adjust the plan as work progresses.
Confirm current session options before booking because the biography did not list formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. It can allow shorter check-ins during a lunch break, let someone avoid travel time, or reduce the need to be on camera for every visit. Licensed professionals use the approaches above to help clients practice skills between meetings and translate learning into daily routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Maine, New Hampshire
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, anger, addiction, depression, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and related life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is practical, down-to-earth, and strength-based, focusing on clear skills and honest conversation.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience working in hospitals, community programs, and private practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW with licenses in Maine and works from Maine.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats were not specified in the biography.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.