Melissa Illario, LCSW

My approach

My go-to therapy approach is CBT-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in order to find stuck points and thinking errors that hinder clients from truly being free from their thoughts and feelings. I also specialize in EMDR for PTSD, Trauma, and for working through negative core beliefs. I have seen many clients evolve through difficult experiences with this approach and feel strongly that healing is possible even if life seems like it will never get better.

My focus

I work with adults who feel as if something is wrong or missing. Sometimes they know why, and other times it can be a looming feeling they can't identify. I am trauma-centered and I am comfortable sitting with any experience you are willing to work through to get to the healing part that you deserve. I enjoy helping people overcome challenging experiences and see the changes that healing provides.

My communication style

I value having an understanding and compassionate therapy environment where clients can be vulnerable in their experiences and feel supported. Due to seeing clients fully remotely at this time, I have a broad library of handouts and engaging content to share with clients during and outside of sessions to support them the best way I can. 

My journey to mental healthcare

In college, I worked with an elementary school Social Worker and was impressed by the interventions and supports we were able to offer kids that actually helped. Once I graduated, I spent several years working in Case Management for people who had been abused and neglected before applying for a Masters program in Social Work. Since then, I have worked as a therapist in outpatient settings for trauma. Most recently, I worked for Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for Eating Disorders before returning to the outpatient setting to start my own practice.

My goals for you

We will create our treatment plan collaboratively in our first session and create goals specifically for you. Most often goals are centered around incorporating new coping skills or gaining a deeper understanding of our past and how it impacts our present and future. I enjoy being an outpatient therapist because we can create any goals you want in the timeframe that you want to have sessions.

My first session with you

During your first session we will get to know each other and go through intake questions to help us create therapy goals specifically for you. We will also talk about coping skills you use. I will provide handouts with education on what therapy is and helpful guides for you to reference in between sessions.