Melanie Fikse, LPCC

Melanie Fikse is a California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with 12 years of experience. She works with adults on common challenges of early adulthood and beyond, including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, bipolar disorder, relationship and family concerns, and struggles with identity or belonging.

Her approach centers on collaboration and listening. She uses client-centered work alongside practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Sessions focus on what feels most useful now - skill practice, noticing patterns, and setting small steps forward.

Melanie has substantial experience with trauma and related concerns such as post-traumatic stress, self-harm, and complex grief. She also supports people dealing with addiction, mood disorders, impulsivity, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. She is allied with LGBT people and addresses issues common in those communities.

She trained at New York University and spent years providing therapy in a community mental health clinic, then moved to California where she has practiced in a rural setting. That background informs a mix of practical interventions and long-form clinical experience.

In session she combines problem-solving and skill work with deeper exploration when needed. People can expect direct, steady guidance, with tools aimed at managing difficult moments and making changes that fit day-to-day life.

How Melanie’s approaches translate to online work