Dr. Melissa Chovan

Dr. Melissa Chovan is a licensed counselor with 13 years as a practicing therapist. She works from a warm, respectful, and interactive stance and aims to help people feel heard while they learn tools to handle life’s stresses and setbacks. Her background spans many settings, including community mental health, state prison work, child protective services cases, and private practice. She helps people facing anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD, and substance issues. Trauma and abuse are a focal area, and she is working toward deeper specialization in trauma-focused work. She also supports people dealing with grief, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy concerns, career questions, and the stress of life changes. Her clinical approach mixes practical skills with empathic listening. She uses client-centered methods to follow each person’s lead and incorporates cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness work are part of her toolkit for managing strong emotions and building coping skills. Dr. Chovan brings varied experience with domestic violence, sexual assault, and first responder and veteran issues. She also has experience in settings that serve at-risk youth and those involved in the justice system. This range informs a flexible, problem-solving style in sessions. Hope and education are central to her work. She aims to empower people to take small, steady steps toward change. To begin, she encourages people to be ready to talk, learn, and actively try new strategies in their lives.

Trauma-informed and skills-based options for online work

Dr. Chovan uses approaches that blend listening with hands-on skills work. Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on addressing the impacts of past harm and helping people process traumatic memories and reactions so they interfere less with daily life. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes understanding each person’s perspective and following their pace, which helps people feel respected and seen during difficult conversations. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete techniques to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress management.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they will try methods that fit the person’s needs and adjust over time based on what helps most.

The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also means people can work on skills between sessions and bring real-life situations into therapy for discussion. If you’re considering online work, ask about the formats offered and any practical details when you start scheduling.