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Melissa Winston, LMFT

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Melissa is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

5.0 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Melissa. View 21 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Missouri and Kansas

Recent reviews

I have only had a few sessions with Melissa but I feel she has already greatly increased the quality of my day to day life. Talking to her is easy and she helps me put things in new perspective.

Reviewed January 2022

Melissa has helped where others have failed. I’m not an easy ‘but to crack’ so to speak and easily stay in a comfortable spot while still disclosing enough to keep someone busy but Melissa was able to traverse my issues and help me find some peace.

Reviewed April 2021

More about Melissa

  • 10 years' experience
  • Female
  • LMFT, LCMFT

Hello! My name is Melissa Winston, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Missouri. With a Bachelor's Degree in education and many years of work with teens and families in the non-profit sector, I found myself feeling compelled to help more but not having the tools to do so. I went back to school to get my degree as a Marriage & Family Therapist from Capella University and have been working in various treatment settings for the past 10 years. The last five years have been specifically in residential work with adolescents and their families. I have a combined total of 22 years of experience working with teens and families.

I specialize in work with complex family systems that have experienced trauma - adolescents, individuals, couples, and families - learning to unravel that trauma and re-engage in healthy relationships with one another. Using a mix of systems theories, I work to meet clients where they are to help them find their own solutions to the problems they are facing. Therapy should be a safe space to process and be honest about whatever you're thinking and feeling without judgement. Once we feel heard and seen, then we have the courage to go towards the healing we long for in our lives. I believe that all people have the capacity to change and that as we each work toward our own individual wholeness, we can then have deeper, more meaningful relationships. I am trained in trauma-informed care and primarily use Narrative, CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused modalities in the counseling room. I believe there is hope for even the most broken and painful relationship - if the individuals are willing to do the work on themselves. I am extremely passionate about people and will work as hard as you will to help you get where you want to go.

Outside of therapy, I love to decorate, to hang out with my husband and two teenage sons, and to spend time with my community. I also have two dogs (a sweet old Pit/Lab mix, Piper, and a one year old Havanese fluff-ball) who keep us all running. I am also passionate about organizational leadership and community development.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Family conflicts Parenting issues Depression Addictions Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Sleeping disorders Anger management Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue ADHD Abandonment Autism and Asperger Syndrome Blended family issues Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Coping with natural or human-caused disaster Dependent personality Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Life purpose Veteran and Armed Forces Issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Panic disorder and panic attacks Personality disorders Post-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirth Self-harm Self-love Social anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Melissa Winston's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1548767122.

  • LMFT · Missouri · 2014025253 · Expires February 2026
  • LCMFT · Kansas · LCMFT 03116 · Expires November 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Melissa Winston

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

5.0

21 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Helped Listens Amazing Great Comfortable Easy Understand Understanding Grateful Helpful

I have only had a few sessions with Melissa but I feel she has already greatly increased the quality of my day to day life. Talking to her is easy and she helps me put things in new perspective.

Reviewed January 2022

Melissa has helped where others have failed. I’m not an easy ‘but to crack’ so to speak and easily stay in a comfortable spot while still disclosing enough to keep someone busy but Melissa was able to traverse my issues and help me find some peace.

Reviewed April 2021

I really enjoy our sessions. She has an amazing personality. She makes me feel comfortable and listens to my concerns. We have only have a few sessions but I’m grateful for how much she’s helped me so far. I’m happy that she’s my counselor.

Reviewed December 2020

Melissa has been such a wonderful counselor. She is very kind and understanding. Melissa is always building me up and inspires me in many different ways. She has been an amazing person to talk too and so helpful.

Reviewed November 2020

The best

Reviewed August 2022

She’s great

Reviewed March 2022

Melissa is very kind, very understanding and yet still professional. She is like a friend that has infinite information and compassion. She's has helped me understand my self and life with healthy outside perspective.

Reviewed September 2021

Melissa is the perfect combination of relatable and professional. She listens and makes me feel so heard but also challenges me and asks questions that encourage me to look deeper and with a fresh perspective. Talking with her has really helped me process my reactions and start building skills to make positive change. Our sessions give me hope.

Reviewed July 2021

Melissa creates a calm and encouraging environment. She has helped me grow as an individual and help me set goals for myself. She has been an immense help and I am grateful to have been connected with her. Thank you so much!

Reviewed July 2021

I first got in contact with Melissa at a very emotional and chaotic time in my life. When I talk with her, I feel listened to, respected, and not judged. She’s insightful, understanding, and gives amazing advices. Melissa helps me focus on my life goals despite the bad days. She helps me put things in a different perspective. After a session, I feel hopeful and motivated about where I am in my life and my growth.

Reviewed June 2021

Melissa is great. She really listens. She is not dismissive and is easy to talk to!

Reviewed March 2021

Melissa made me feel comfortable right away. I feel like I'm talking with a friend. She asks the hard questions and goes deep without judgement. It's hard, but she's genuine and really cares about helping me.

Reviewed March 2021

Melissa is a great help. She has fantastic visuals for helping sort through your own head and even uses her own anecdotes to make her seem more like a friend than a counselor. Talking with her has helped me immensely.

Reviewed January 2021

She is extremely knowledgeable and her analogies make difficult subjects easier to understand. She is a great listener and provides useful and thoughtful remarks. Lastly, she is very cool.

Reviewed December 2020

Melissa makes you feel completely comfortable and really takes the time to understand. I feel she really cares about her patients and checks in often just to see how you are. I would highly recommend her to anyone.

Reviewed December 2020

Melissa makes me feel seen and valued in a way that I didn't know how to allow myself to feel before. She creates a safe environment where I am in control of my thoughts and she offers tangible resources to help me move forward in accomplishing my goals. Melissa is a godsend.

Reviewed December 2020

Melissa is amazing. I’m so glad I was connected with her. She’s honest, listens to me, and I never feel judged. She’s truly amazing and was a blessing from God!! She gives the best advice and I feel she actually cares about me! Thank you Melissa I’d recommend you to everyone!

Reviewed November 2020

Melissa goes out of her way to make sure I feel heard and understood. Would absolutely reccomend her to anyone looking for a therapist

Reviewed November 2020

I’m really enjoying my time with Melissa. From the start it felt like talking to a familiar friend. She listens well and makes thoughtful, supportive comments. She’s made herself very available to me thru text and video calls. I look forward to our weekly chats, even if sometimes I don’t have much to say or update her on, it’s always a pleasant interaction!

Reviewed November 2020

She is very warm, compassionate, and really listens. But not only that, she responds back with solutions and sometimes more questions to get to the root of the problem/solution. I'm so glad I found her. Good therapists are hard to find!!!

Reviewed November 2020

She's a great counselor, she has been so helpful.

Reviewed November 2020

How was your experience with Melissa?

Frequently asked questions

Does Melissa Winston offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Melissa Winston works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Melissa Winston speak?

Melissa Winston speaks English.

How many years of experience does Melissa Winston have?

Melissa Winston has 10 years of experience.

Where is Melissa Winston licensed to practice?

Melissa Winston is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas.

Does Melissa Winston accept clients outside of the United States?

No, Melissa Winston does not accept clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Melissa Winston offer?

Melissa Winston offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Melissa Winston?

Melissa Winston can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Melissa Winston?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.