Melissa McKenzie

Supervised by Anthony Moore, LMFT #121972

Supervised by Elizabeth Stewart, LMFT #96324

Supervised by Jenna Resch, LMFT #122483

Supervised by Dana Walker, LCSW #69180

Meet Melissa: As a school counselor, Melissa has primarily worked with youth, assisting them with their social-emotional, career, and academic counseling needs.  Now, as a therapist, Melissa is bringing her experience with adolescents to her role in helping adult individuals, couples, and families navigate the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Melissa is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel comfortable sharing their experiences. She views each session as the client's time, focusing on the concerns that matter most to them, whether they involve unresolved experiences from the past or current challenges that are keeping them from moving forward.

Melissa believes that people are best understood within the context of their relationships, families, and life experiences. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, she works collaboratively with clients to understand the stories they tell about themselves and the relationships and experiences that have shaped those stories.

Specialties: Melissa works with individuals from all walks of life. Her current clinical interests include parents of neurodivergent children, families of first responders, couples, individuals recovering from coercive or controlling relationships, and children/adolescents. She is a gender- and sexuality-affirming therapist.

Why Melissa Became a Counselor: Counseling was not Melissa's original career path. After years as a reporter and working in public relations, she discovered that the strongest stories were always about people. The more she listened, the more she learned about individuals and how they were intertwined with other individuals and within communities she covered. Conversations naturally shifted away from businesses and organizations and toward the personal challenges people were facing. Those experiences ultimately made the transition into counseling a natural next chapter.

Hobbies and Interests: Melissa is married to a first responder and is the mother of three children, ranging in age from toddler to preteen, one of whom is neurodivergent. In her free time, Melissa enjoys watching documentaries, reading non-fiction, spending time with friends, and walking/running.

Education: BA in Liberal Arts, emphasis in Media and Culture, Chapman University (2010); MA in Counseling, School Counseling (PPSC credential), University of Massachusetts Global (2024). MEd in Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Wisconsin, Superior (2026)

Memberships and Associations: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), American School Counseling Association (ASCA), American Counseling Association (ACA), California Association of School Counselors (CASC)