Melissa Kleiner, LAPC (she/her) 

Melissa Kleiner is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) with over 15 years of experience in mental and behavioral health. In addition to being a therapist, she is a program manager of school-based mental health services. In this role, she integrates therapeutic strategies and educational goals, fostering the development of both emotional and academic growth. Having worked with children and adolescents for many years, she values addressing current concerns but also building long-term resilience and coping skills that will support the patient into adulthood.

Melissa believes each person’s story is unique. She is passionate about guiding individuals as they pursue growth, healing, and clarity. She strives to create a genuine, kind, and compassionate environment where individuals can speak freely about the challenges they face, explore options and opportunities for growth, and develop more fulfilling and thriving interpersonal relationships. She utilizes a holistic, trauma-informed, strength-based approach to empower clients and their families to reach their goals in treatment. Rooted in a variety of evidence-based techniques, she utilizes modalities such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Family Systems Theory, incorporating art and play therapy.

Melissa has experience working with grief/ loss, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, emotional regulation, life transitions, trauma/PTSD, and interpersonal relationship struggles. She is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist.

Melissa completed her undergraduate degree at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. She earned a Master’s in Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.