Mellissa Arena
Licensed Therapist MS, LPC
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I love helping people overcome barriers they're facing. As an OCD therapist, I consider each member an individual with their own lived experiences and variables that impact who they are and how they're affected by OCD. I'll create an individualized treatment plan specifically designed for you. I know starting this process can seem overwhelming and scary. I'm here to help you feel comfortable and understood. Beyond OCD, my other areas of professional focus include substance abuse, anxiety, OCD, depression, adjustment, and life changes.
I love helping people overcome barriers they're facing. As an OCD therapist, I consider each member an individual with their own lived experiences and variables that impact who they are and how they're affected by OCD. I'll create an individualized treatment plan specifically designed for you. I know starting this process can seem overwhelming and scary. I'm here to help you feel comfortable and understood. Beyond OCD, my other areas of professional focus include substance abuse, anxiety, OCD, depression, adjustment, and life changes.
Location
Licensed in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
About
Clinical Expertise
OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Phobias, Skin picking, Hair pulling, Nail biting, Tics, Children and Adolescents
Cultural competencies
Christianity
Education
Walden University
Insurance
Plans accepted by Mellissa
Aetna, Ascension SmartHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Capital BlueCross, Cigna, Curative, Forest County Potawatomi, Horizon BCBS, Imagine Health, Independence Blue Cross, Partners Direct Health, United Healthcare,
Want to work with Mellissa?
Talk with our team to learn more.
Get to know Mellissa
My personal connection to OCD and mental health
I've struggled quite a bit with anxiety. I had prenatal and postnatal anxiety, which was really rough, even as a therapist. I couldn't sleep because I'd sit there worried something bad was going to happen to my daughter. It's always at the forefront of my mind because I know how scary it is, how hard it is, and how lonely you can feel when you're going through this internal battle. There were times when I wished I could have had somebody to help me. Now I can be that person for somebody else.
What my Members appreciate about me
People tell me they feel much more comfortable in therapy with me than they anticipated. I take time to explore the things that they want to explore further, so they're not feeling rushed or like they just have to answer my questions so I can check all my boxes, which is something I think a lot of people have experienced in the past. I like to make therapy personal and make that connection known and felt in our sessions, so you know that you can feel safe and be vulnerable without judgment or stigma.
What I want to help you see in yourself
I want to help you see yourself the way that your loved ones see you, or that I see you. I'd love to help you find the courage and truth within yourself, and see that you are so much more brave and courageous than you might realize. You can do so much more than OCD wants you to think you can do.
Why our members love working with Mellissa
D.N.
I can’t say enough how much I appreciate my therapist! I never thought I would have been able to meet my therapist and immediately felt that as if she’s someone I’ve known and most importantly someone who is genuine and cares enough to actually listen and then to explain things to me in ways I understand and to help me feel better about myself. I have never been so down and stuck in this dark place before and was desperate to try to get help and I am so happy I found help here . From the first contact and every interaction from the intake to even the insurance process I have been treated with such kind and helpful people who really help! I’m looking forward to the healing journey and the learning process . I want to take my life back and I feel like that’s finally possible and I truly feel like Melissa is just as eager to help me as I am to learn and grow from her and this program .
S.M.
Melissa is great to work with. She’s very patient with me, as I’ve been having a hard time lately, and I believe I’m making progress with her guidance. I really appreciate her!
S.D.
I don’t even know where to start when it comes to complimenting my sessions with Melissa. She always makes me feel very heard and understood and is always offering me helpful perspective shifts. I’m always nervous just before therapy and find that I’m feeling so much more at peace after my sessions and discussions with her. She does so well navigating my hectic way of explaining my emotions / experiences.
E.B.
Melissa Arena is the perfect match for me and my anxiety level has gone down immensely. My mind is quieter than it’s ever been and I’m almost 60. It’s quite amazing what a good therapist can do.
S.M.
Melissa is so helpful and really good at listening to my concerns and coming up with tangible solutions. It’s a blessing to work with her!
S.M.
Melissa is always so great to work with. She really addresses my questions and issues with a lot of thought and works through ERP exercises with me. Her encouragement has been so helpful!
S.M.
I’ve definitely seen big improvements lately and slowly but surely feel like my life is coming back. Melissa has been a great support and helps me with continuing to make progress as I learn to tackle more areas of OCD in my life.
E.B.
Melissa has a great way of navigating conversations to help me understand the challenges I’m working through. I always have great sessions with her.
E.B.
Melissa is a great resource and helps me as problems arise along with self work in general.
E.B.
Melissa is a great support to me, caring and knowledgeable.
E.B.
Melissa is great !
E.B.
I couldn’t ask for a better therapist!
S.M.
Melissa has been so helpful and supportive along my journey. I’m doing much better lately dealing with OCD and Melissa is always encouraging me and helped me through the really tough times too. So grateful for her help!
E.B.
Melissa is an amazing therapist.
E.B.
I always look for to my sessions with Melissa.
E.B.
I always look forward to my sessions with Melissa Arena. She helps me in many ways and I always feel understood.
S.M.
Melissa is awesome. She is very compassionate and helps me to take things one step at a time. She’s also helped me through some rough moments of panic/spiraling. Making progress. So thankful for her!
E.B.
Melissa Arena is an amazing, educated and caring therapist.
S.D.
Melissa is amazing every single week! So thankful for her
S.M.
I was having such a tough day but Melissa met me with so much compassion as usual. It really helps to have her to listen to what I’m going through knowing that she is putting in her best effort to understand and help me
S.M.
Melissa is excellent! She is very holistic in treating OCD and recognizing the various struggles that I’m going through. I’m very grateful for her and believe I’m making progress.
E.T.
Melissa is a great therapist. She is compassionate, understanding and always knows how to ask the right questions and respond with what we need to hear. She is great with teenagers. Both me and my daughter feel heard and supported by her. Highly recommend her
T.T.
Great session.
S.D.
She is amazing to work with, always feel understood and she helps deconstruct my thoughts with her knowledge
S.M.
Mellissa is great! She is very willing to go with the flow and adjust approaches based on how I’ve been doing. She really listens to what I have to say and offers helpful insight into my OCD.
S.M.
Mellissa is great! She’s been very helpful and understanding in addressing my fears and concerns, as well as explaining each step of the ERP process.
A.R.
I started therapy about 2 months ago and my therapist is amazing. We create realistic goals together and has given me some excellent advice. The cost is great too since it is covered by insurance.
T.T.
Great job
R.L.
Non judgmental
C.C.
Mellissa was extremely helpful and I look forward to my next session with her -thank you!
M.G.
As usual. Melissa was great!
M.G.
As usual Mellissa was great She deserves big raise !
M.G.
Mellisa Arena as usual was great !
M.G.
She is GREAT! Mike 🙏
L.D.
Mellissa is great. I really enjoyed talking to her. She was very knowledgeable and seems to be a great support. I'd give her 5 stars but we only met once but I'm sure she is very good at what she does! Looking forward to working with her. Laura
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