Melanie Giarratano , LMHC, LCMHC

Melanie Giarratano is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in New York, holding LMHC and LCMHC licensure. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY College at Old Westbury. Her training and clinical work span inpatient and outpatient settings, where she provides both group and individual therapy for adults, teenagers, children, veterans, people with substance use concerns, and individuals with developmental disabilities.

During her undergraduate studies Melanie conducted research on post-traumatic stress disorder using rodent models, an experience that deepened her understanding of stress responses and the processes involved in extinguishing fear. That research informs her current work with patients who have significant trauma histories in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Her graduate training emphasized psychodynamic principles - including development, family context, and transference - which she integrates to better understand each client in the context of their life story.

She uses an individualized, integrative approach to treatment and draws on motivational interviewing to encourage goal-directed change, client-centered therapy to offer support and empathy, solution-focused work to emphasize present and future goals, and cognitive behavioral techniques to examine the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Melanie emphasizes practical coping skills and the importance of self-care, modeling balance through activities such as yoga, biking, time outdoors, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Melanie integrates several practical approaches into online therapy. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space in which clients lead the conversation and the therapist offers empathy and encouragement - it is helpful for building self-esteem and navigating life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns and develop concrete coping strategies for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Motivational Interviewing is a goal-oriented, collaborative method that helps clients resolve ambivalence and move toward meaningful change, especially useful for addictions and behavior change.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Melanie works collaboratively with each person to identify what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Licensed professionals and therapists often blend methods so treatment can evolve as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to engage in care from different locations and at times that suit their schedules. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to practice skills between sessions with support from a trained clinician.