Melanie Berte-Hickey , LISW

Melanie Berte-Hickey is a licensed social worker based in Iowa who brings a long career in social work to her clinical practice. Her credential, LISW, stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker and indicates advanced training and authorization to provide clinical social work services. Melanie combines more than 30 years of professional social work experience with seven years specifically focused on therapeutic practice, offering a depth of perspective that informs her approach.

She is committed to working collaboratively with clients to cultivate a supportive, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be openly explored. Taking the first step toward therapy is acknowledged as a courageous move, and Melanie strives to meet clients where they are and support their goals for growth and healing. Her areas of focus include stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes, and she emphasizes practical strategies alongside emotional processing to help clients move forward.

Melanie’s practice emphasizes partnership, clear communication, and respect for each person’s unique experience. She works to tailor evidence-based techniques to individual needs so clients can build skills, navigate transitions, and strengthen resilience over time.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Flexible Online Care

Melanie uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skill-building and emotional processing. One approach emphasizes skills-based coping strategies to help manage stress and anxiety - clients learn concrete tools for breathing, emotion regulation, and managing difficult thoughts that support day-to-day functioning. Another approach centers on supportive grief work and navigating life changes - this involves creating space to process loss, identify meaningful steps forward, and develop routines that aid adjustment. A third emphasis is career and self-esteem work that combines goal-setting, decision-making strategies, and strengths-based reflection to support vocational and personal growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melanie works collaboratively with clients to determine which techniques fit best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they monitor progress and adapt the plan as necessary so therapy remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or work, reduce travel time, and allow people to engage in therapy in ways that fit their daily routines while maintaining consistent care.