Licensed clinical social worker recordMaine
Melissa Fernald, LCSW
Maine
Licensed clinical social worker - stress and addiction
Continue with MelissaCredentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in Maine
- LCSW, licence LC18215
- Licensed in New Hampshire
- LCSW, licence 5092
- NPI
- 1598070591
- Experience
- 25 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Maine
These details come from information Melissa supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- ACT and CBT
- DBT skills
- Attachment work
About Melissa
Melissa Fernald is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) licensed in Maine with 25 years of experience in mental health and addiction work. She focuses on common life pressures such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, and substance-related problems. Melissa describes her work as practical and focused on what will help now.
Her background includes work in hospitals, community programs, and private practice. Those settings shaped how she approaches sessions - with straightforward skills and clear goals rather than long drawn-out processes. She aims to help people get unstuck and make changes that fit their daily lives.
Melissa uses methods drawn from acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, attachment-based work, and client-centered approaches. In sessions she emphasizes building on existing strengths and learning new tools for handling stress, cravings, mood shifts, and relationship struggles.
She describes herself as calm, down-to-earth, and nonjudgmental, and she values honesty and a bit of humor in conversation. Sessions are intended to be productive and practical so people leave feeling more capable and clearer about next steps.
Many of her focus areas include parenting strain, caregiver stress, codependency, blended family issues, addiction recovery, career questions, and coping with major life changes. Melissa encourages concrete problem solving alongside exploring patterns that get in the way of goals.
BHow sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting pulled into them, then taking actions that match personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and getting unstuck when worry or avoidance limit life choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and teaches specific skills to shift unhelpful patterns. It is useful for mood management, anxiety, and changing behaviors tied to addictions or impulses. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will collaborate with each person to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. She combines skills-based work and gentle exploration so clients can try tools and see what helps most. The therapist's biography does not specify which online session formats are used. Confirm current session options before booking so you know what will fit your schedule and routine. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, shorten check-ins when time is limited, avoid travel, or choose a quieter setting that helps concentration. Licensed professionals often adapt pacing, homework, and skill practice to work well over distance and within everyday life.CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
Maine, New Hampshire
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
Melissa works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and caregiving stress, and related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a strength-based, solution-focused approach that emphasizes practical skills, clear goals, and building on what already works for each person.
How much experience does she bring?
She has 25 years of experience in mental health and addiction settings including hospitals, community programs, and private practice.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, licensed in Maine.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she offer?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers