Melissa Hurt , LICSW

Melissa Hurt is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - LICSW who brings a social work lens to clinical practice and supports people seeking greater stability, peace, and joy. She earned a master’s degree in social work with a focus on macro-level issues, and pursued clinical licensure to combine systems awareness with direct therapeutic care. Melissa pays close attention to how culture, family histories, and institutional systems shape an individual’s experience and explores those influences thoughtfully in sessions.

Her professional background includes extensive work in disability services, where she supported teams of social workers and stayed connected to day-to-day challenges faced by clients and support professionals. She has worked with young college professionals and maintains a strong connection to the veteran community, informed in part by years as a military spouse and experience with families living in diverse regions. As a partner in a long-term marriage and a parent of three teenagers, she brings personal insight into the dynamics of long-term partnerships, blended families, and parenting.

Melissa’s clinical approach emphasizes compassion, strength-based work, and creative problem solving. She draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and encourages mindfulness and self-care practices tailored to each person. Melissa aims to help people learn from struggles, identify what helps them move forward, and put practical tools into practice. She approaches each relationship with honesty, empathy, and a supportive, cheerleading stance.

Approaches that guide online sessions and how they help

Melissa integrates several evidence-informed methods to support clients in online sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts or feelings, and take committed action toward a meaningful life - it is often useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical skills for managing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and coping challenges. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding and reshaping emotional responses in relationships, which can be especially helpful for couples work, attachment concerns, and intimacy-related issues.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa works with clients to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and she adapts techniques to fit each person’s unique needs and circumstances. Therapy is shaped together so the plan reflects the client’s priorities and pace.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter check-ins or ongoing work can happen through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit consistent care into busy lives, maintain continuity through moves or schedule changes, and access licensed professionals from wherever the client is located.