Melissa Siebert

Hi!  My name is Melissa Siebert and I am a VA Board of Counseling approved Resident in Counseling, currently working toward full-licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.  I obtained my Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts from Kent State University and have two Masters degrees- one in Intercultural/International Relations from the School for International Training and the other in Counseling from NC Central University.

I have over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults and the LGBTQIA community on a variety of issues such as self-esteem, emotional regulation, anger management, anxiety, depression, life transitions, family issues, and coping with grief and loss.

As a counselor, I believe in my client’s vast capabilities and aspirations, while also understanding the very real obstacles and limitations that can get in the way of happiness and a sense of fulfillment.  I understand that there are many facets of our lives that are outside of our control.  I also understand, from personal experience, that how we feel about ourselves is often dictated by direct and indirect messages we receive from loved ones, colleagues and friends, and society as a whole.  My approach to therapy is both person-centered and action-oriented.  I encourage my clients to examine their fears and limitations and to work on concrete skills to overcome them.  My ultimate goal is to give my clients a sense of hope for the future and more control over the direction of their lives.

Choosing a counselor is a very personal decision.  It is important to find the right fit, so I’d like to tell you a little about me.  I am someone with very strong values around equality.  My life’s work has very much been about making the world a more equitable and inclusive place for everyone in it.  I am a divorced mother of two teenage boys, one with ADD and one on the Autism spectrum who also has Type 1 Diabetes, and also a member of the LGBTQIA community.  I strongly believe that my own struggles throughout my life have made me a very compassionate and empathetic counselor.  I am here to assist my clients in creating a path forward in a world that can be very challenging.