About Melissa
Melissa Pagarigan is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping people navigate hard moments. She aims to build a trusting, down-to-earth relationship so clients feel heard and understood. Melissa writes and speaks plainly, and she meets people where they are in their lives.
She has ten years of experience as a clinician and has worked with a range of concerns. These include relationship strain, family stress, trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, grief, parenting challenges, anger, low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
Background and approach
Sessions are shaped around each person’s specific situation. Melissa uses a mix of practical approaches. She draws on cognitive strategies to change unhelpful thinking, humanistic ideas to center the person, and strength-based work to build on what already helps.
She adapts those methods to match each client’s needs and goals. In sessions she focuses on clear, usable steps. That might mean learning skills to manage intense feelings, practicing new ways of communicating, or finding routines that support mood and focus.
She aims for tools that people can try between meetings. Melissa encourages anyone who feels ready to take a step toward help. She emphasizes steady progress over quick fixes and works collaboratively to set doable goals.
Her practice is located in Nevada and she works in English.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Melissa uses evidence-based techniques that focus on practical change and personal strengths. Cognitive approaches help people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and reactions, which can reduce anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Humanistic methods emphasize listening and building a respectful, collaborative relationship so clients feel understood and can connect with their own values. Strength-based work highlights existing skills and resources, helping people apply what already works to new challenges.Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist and client discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit those needs. Over time they adjust the plan based on what helps most, keeping the work collaborative and outcome-focused.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for deeper conversations that benefit from face-to-face interaction, while phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter updates, skill practice, and people who prefer typed communication. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, and daily life.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Compassion fatigue
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- Nevada, Utah, Washington
- Languages
- English