Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker , LMFT

Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker, who sometimes goes by "M.A.," is a licensed family therapist and a licensed psychologist practicing in Florida. She brings 32 years of clinical experience and a relational orientation that emphasizes multigenerational family systems and experiential methods. Her work often incorporates psychodramatic and sociometric techniques, approaches that invite clients to explore interpersonal roles and connections as part of the healing process.

Dr. Coker emphasizes clear boundaries and helping people identify their emotional needs so they can make healthier choices and find ways to feel grounded more consistently. Over three decades she has worked across a wide range of settings, including private psychotherapy, inpatient drug treatment, high school counseling, county drug treatment programs, outpatient care, women’s prison services, and drug court treatment. Those experiences inform a practical, adaptable style that addresses both acute crises and ongoing life challenges.

Her clinical focus includes trauma and abuse recovery, anxiety, stress, depression, bipolar conditions, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting and caregiver stress, ADHD, and intimacy-related issues. She also works with attachment and abandonment concerns, blended family dynamics, codependency, communication and control issues, dissociation, and other co-occurring problems. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - a credential indicating specialized training in relational and family therapies - Dr. Coker combines evidence-informed techniques with a client-centered, collaborative stance. She welcomes questions and aims to create a therapy experience that is relevant and useful for each individual.