Melissa MadriagaLPC

Melissa Madriaga is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in Wisconsin. She offers a steady, down-to-earth approach for people worried about anxiety, depression, stress, eating and body image concerns, and pregnancy and childbirth related challenges. Melissa writes plainly and listens closely so clients can talk through what matters most right now.

She brings eight years of counseling experience and a practical background that includes work with incarcerated and unhoused people. Melissa served seven years in the United States Army Reserves and draws on that perspective when clients mention military or veteran-related issues. She also reports experience supporting people from LGBTQ and other marginalized communities.

Melissa uses client-centered methods and cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients spot patterns and try small changes that make days easier. She also incorporates mindfulness and narrative work to help people notice thoughts and rewrite difficult self-stories.

Her training includes a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marian University. Melissa is the owner of Inner Balance Counseling and balances clinical work with parenting two daughters.

Her style is straightforward and practical. Sessions focus on clear goals, skill-building, and small, doable steps. People who want a calm, no-nonsense therapist who understands life transitions and parenthood may find her approach helpful.

How therapy approaches translate to online sessions

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and working at the client’s pace. In practice this means the therapist encourages people to lead conversations about what feels most important and adjusts topics to match each session. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, eating concerns, and stress by teaching concrete skills to try between sessions.

Deciding which approach to use is a team effort. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences. That might mean starting with client-centered listening, adding CBT skills, or bringing in mindfulness and narrative ideas as needed.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counseling into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people try sessions from a quieter spot or choose audio-only when video is not convenient. Licensed professionals tailor the pace and tools to each person's life and goals.