- Grief and transitions
- Parenting support
- ADHD challenges
About Melissa
Melissa Perlin is a licensed clinical social worker who has spent 20 years helping people through difficult emotional moments. She works with adults facing grief, parenting strain, life transitions, and challenges related to ADHD. Her language is direct and practical so parents can read and decide quickly if she might be a fit.
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. Sessions focus on clearer self-understanding, better communication, and manageable strategies for daily life. She helps people break big problems into smaller steps they can act on between meetings.
Melissa pays attention to how shame, guilt, and isolation shape behavior. She supports people who struggle with social anxiety and phobia by practicing real-world skills in session and planning small experiments for outside the room. Work on forgiveness and self-love is concrete and paced to each person's needs.
When parenting is stressful, Melissa helps parents sort priorities, set realistic expectations, and build routines that reduce overwhelm. For grief and life changes, she offers ways to hold strong feelings while moving forward at a steadier pace.
Her approach combines practical tools with steady listening. She aims to help clients feel more able to handle daily demands and more confident in their relationships. Readers should confirm current session options before booking so they know what formats are available.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Melissa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and real-life practice. One common approach emphasizes skill building and behavioral strategies to manage symptoms of ADHD and social anxiety; this involves setting small goals, practicing new behaviors, and tracking what helps. Another approach concentrates on grief and life transitions by creating space to process feelings while developing coping routines that support daily functioning.Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust the plan over time. Clients and therapist decide together which techniques feel most useful and manageable.
If you plan to use online therapy, confirm which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people try strategies in their everyday context and bring those experiences back into sessions for discussion and adjustment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Melissa address?
She focuses on grief, parenting stress, coping with life changes, and ADHD-related challenges, along with communication problems, shame, and social anxiety.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical, emphasizing clear self-understanding, skill building, and step-by-step plans clients can try between sessions.
What kind of experience does she bring?
Melissa has 20 years of clinical experience working with adults through transitions, grief, and interpersonal struggles.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LCSW-C license in Maryland and practices in that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.