

I am a licensed clinical psychologist originally trained in NYC at St. John’s University. My main area of focus is on burnout recovery (both individual and group therapy offerings; see website mirnamejiaphd.com for group therapy description).
Additional specialties include the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I'm also particularly interested in the treatment of chronic health conditions, including chronic pain and insomnia, including how emotional functioning impacts overall physical well-being.
Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (CA LCSW #130126) who is passionate about helping individuals find better alignment with their values to create a life worth living. Melissa has experience working with trauma (she is trained in EMDR), substance use, anxiety, depression and life transitions. Melissa has worked in the outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential settings since becoming a social worker in 2020. Melissa employs an individualized, eclectic approach including interventions from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to meet the needs of each client. Melissa is passionate about social justice and uses a systems approach that views individual clients in the context of interconnected systems like family, community and society.
Starting therapy can feel uncomfortable or even a little awkward, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. I try to make the process feel more human and less clinical.
I’m a direct therapist, which means I’ll share what I’m noticing and offer interpretations, but always in a way that feels collaborative, not overwhelming. Over time, those insights tend to become more accurate as we get to know each other.
I also believe not every therapist is the right fit, and that’s something we can be open about. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable being real, while also being gently challenged in ways that help you grow.
I've been in therapy myself and have both healed and grown tremendously having worked with
therapists. Through my work with skilled therapists, I have become a more present, alive, whole-
bodied person that has learned to love myself--to be kinder to myself, less self-critical, happier,
and enjoy expressing my various forms of creativity. I'm not perfect but I continue to make shifts
when I drift into old patterns. As a result of these experiences and recommitting to shifting into
presence, self-acceptance, and whole-body awareness I feel more connected, alive and at peace. I
enjoy loving relationships with the people closest to me including my wife and children. When
not working with people, I enjoy reading biographies and adventure novels, playing board and
card games, watching live baseball games, and enjoying a variety of outdoor activities and
pursuits.



Headway makes it easy to get affordable in-network mental health care with Cigna — from finding the right therapist or psychiatrist, to understanding costs, to booking your first session.