Melissa

Melissa Harrison

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

“I help people increase peace, joy, freedom, and love in their lives through individual and couples therapy.”

About Me

I offer a supportive space for you to cultivate greater peace, joy, freedom, and love. In individual or couples therapy, we explore what holds you back. My approach helps clients seeking deeper connections and personal well-being. We work together to navigate challenges. This fosters a sense of calm and genuine happiness in your life and relationships. You’ll find a collaborative environment focused on your unique path.

Approach

My work centers on practical steps that expand your sense of freedom and deepen love and joy in daily life. In Santa Cruz or online in English, sessions move at a steady, collaborative pace—balancing mindfulness, gentle inquiry, and skill-building so you leave with something to try before we meet again. We notice shifts in relationships, transitions, anxiety, and trauma through brief experiments, reflection, and coaching-style tasks that honor your values and faith. Folks navigating life changes or relationship strain often find this hands-on, reflective rhythm helpful.
Contact Melissa

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

In-person & Online

Services

Services Offered:

  • Coaching

    A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.

  • Counseling

    A form of talk therapy providing a safe, confidential space to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviours with a trained professional.

    Learn more about Counseling
  • Relationship Counseling

    Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.

  • Mindfulness

    The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.

    Learn more about Mindfulness
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Psychotherapy

    In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.

    Learn more about Psychotherapy
  • EMDR

    Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.

    Learn more about EMDR
  • Therapy

    Professional treatment for mental health concerns, providing a structured space for insight, emotional processing, and behavioural change.

    Learn more about Therapy
  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

  • Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • Spiritual or Faith-Based Counseling

    Counselling that integrates spiritual or religious beliefs into the therapeutic process for people who want faith to be part of their healing.

  • Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma
  • Women's Issues

    Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.

  • Young Adult Issues

    The unique psychological challenges of emerging adulthood (18–25), including identity formation, independence, relationship navigation, and finding direction.

    Learn more about Young Adult Issues

Professional Title:

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

    A therapist licensed to work with couples and families on relationship difficulties, communication, and family dynamics.

Credentials

Registrations

Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Verify License

Qualifications

Master of Arts in Psychology

Saybrook University

Year: 2014

Service Areas

Santa Cruz

In-person & Online

Santa Cruz, California

United States

Santa Cruz, United States