Eva "Melissa" Gadd

Eva "Melissa" Gadd is a licensed master social worker who aims to be a steady, practical support for people facing hard times. She listens without judgment and helps clients clarify small goals that feel doable. Melissa keeps language plain and focuses on the day-to-day steps that make life more livable. Melissa earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and brings 25 years of clinical experience. She has worked in medical and therapy settings and has supported people through depression, anxiety, grief, and major life transitions. Those transitions include starting or leaving school or work, marriage and divorce, becoming a parent or facing an empty nest, and changes related to caregiving or health. Her style draws on Client-Centered Therapy and a Person-in-Environment perspective, which looks at the whole context around a person rather than only symptoms. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques to help people spot unhelpful patterns and try out concrete alternatives. Mindfulness tools and emotionally focused ideas are added when they fit the person. Sessions focus on identifying strengths, practical coping skills, and small experiments to test new behaviors. Melissa encourages a collaborative approach where the client sets goals and she offers guidance and feedback. This keeps work focused and relevant to each person's life. People who contact Melissa often want straightforward help with mood, stress, relationships, body image, caregiving strain, chronic health challenges, or managing impulses. She supports people who want down-to-earth strategies and steady encouragement.

How Melissa’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following each person's lead, which online sessions can support by allowing the conversation to stay focused on what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and uses simple exercises and homework to test changes between sessions; this translates well to remote work because exercises can be reviewed together and adapted to daily routines. Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change through guided questions and reflection, which fits an online format where goals and next steps can be revisited regularly.

Finding the right mix of strategies is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to figure out which approaches fit the client's needs, goals, and preferences, and will adjust methods as progress is made. Clients are invited to give feedback so sessions remain practical and relevant.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, avoid travel, and use shorter check-ins when helpful. It can also let people practice new skills in their everyday setting and bring real-life examples into conversation, helping therapy feel connected to daily challenges.