Melissa Torres
Licensed Therapist, MSW, LCSW
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Providing therapy runs in my family. My mom is a therapist, and I followed her path because of the passion for therapy I developed during my own mental health journey. I have real compassion for people who experience OCD. I've experienced my own anxieties, fears, and intrusive thoughts. I understand how anxiety can be a manipulative emotion. I know the value of what therapy can provide. I also know how hard it can be to be vulnerable with someone. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe sharing your thoughts without judgment.
Providing therapy runs in my family. My mom is a therapist, and I followed her path because of the passion for therapy I developed during my own mental health journey. I have real compassion for people who experience OCD. I've experienced my own anxieties, fears, and intrusive thoughts. I understand how anxiety can be a manipulative emotion. I know the value of what therapy can provide. I also know how hard it can be to be vulnerable with someone. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe sharing your thoughts without judgment.
Location
Licensed in New Jersey, Tennessee, Washington
About
Clinical Expertise
OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Phobias, Skin picking, Hair pulling, Nail biting, Tics, Children and Adolescents
Cultural competencies
Christianity
Education
East Carolina University
Insurance
Plans accepted by Melissa
Aetna, Ascension SmartHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Curative, Forest County Potawatomi, Healthcare Management Administrators, Horizon BCBS, Imagine Health, Independence Blue Cross, Key Benefit Administrators, Oscar Health, Partners Direct Health, Regence Blue Cross, Regence Group Administrators, United Healthcare,
Want to work with Melissa?
Talk with our team to learn more.
Get to know Melissa
My personal connection to OCD and mental health
Conditions like depression, PTSD, and substance use run in my family, which has helped me develop a lot of compassion toward the experience of needing to manage mental health struggles. I am also open with Members that I, myself, deal with pretty intense anxiety—which allows me to relate and connect to a lot of people with intrusive thoughts.
How I create a safe, supportive environment in therapy
I really try to build rapport, and offer the opportunity to connect in different ways—beyond just helping you manage your OCD. Checking in on how it went with your family, or your work event, and showing that I'm paying attention to the small things is how I create a space that feels safe for you to share. I never want you to feel like I'm treating you differently because you have OCD. Of course, I'll be challenging you in therapy, but it's important to me that it doesn't feel so formal all the time.
My message to you if you're nervous about starting therapy
If you're feeling hesitant or nervous about starting therapy, know that I'm here to meet you where you are. Just tell me where you want to start, and let's take it in baby steps. This is your treatment, and we don't have to rush it.
The most rewarding part of treating OCD
I've seen Members who pick up ERP really quickly, and that's always nice to see. But, when Members have a little bit of a slower journey, and then see improvement, that's very rewarding for me. These are the harder cases, where Members had a tougher time initially, so when I then see you apply something on your own that we've been repeating in session, it really shows initiative. It's the most rewarding thing for me, because we're both working so hard.
Why our members love working with Melissa
J.D.
Melissa is so knowledgeable about OCD and compassionate at the same time. Just the right combo for me. Thank you Melissa and God bless
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