About Melanie
Melanie Giarratano is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, LCMHC) based in New York. She combines practical tools with warm, direct support to help people manage stress and anxiety. Melanie writes plainly and meets people where they are, listening first and then planning steps forward together.
She studied neuroscience at the University of Delaware and completed a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at SUNY College at Old Westbury. Early research into stress and PTSD shaped how she thinks about fear and trauma responses.
Background and approach
That background informs her current work in inpatient psychiatric settings with people who have experienced significant trauma. Melanie uses several therapy styles so care fits each person. She relies on motivational interviewing to build momentum for change and client-centered methods to offer steady, nonjudgmental support.
Cognitive behavioral techniques are used when clients want to map thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and practice new coping skills. She has experience running group and individual sessions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her work has included adults, teenagers, children, veterans, people who use substances, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Relationship concerns and family context are common themes in her practice. Melanie encourages practical self-care alongside therapeutic work. She recommends concrete strategies like thought tracking, small behavior changes, and simple mindfulness practices.
Outside of work she enjoys yoga, biking, time with friends and family, and playing with her dog.
How Melanie uses practical approaches online
Melanie often draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thought patterns and try new behaviors. CBT involves tracking thoughts, testing assumptions, and practicing coping skills to reduce anxiety and change mood-related habits.She also uses motivational interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change. This approach focuses on building motivation, setting small goals, and supporting the steps someone chooses to take. Client-centered work is another pillar, offering steady listening and encouragement while the client decides the pace and direction of therapy.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melanie collaborates with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and daily life. She will adjust techniques over time based on what is helpful and what a client wants to focus on.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care flexible. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone calls are useful when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat can fit quick check-ins or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options help people fit therapy into busy schedules and different routines.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Family conflicts
- Jealousy
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 4 years
- Licensed
- New York, Utah
- Languages
- English
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