
Melissa Rodriguez, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFC131878)
Melissa Valerie Rodriguez is a Mexican American licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 21 years of experience in psychotherapy. She specializes in working with at-risk youth, and trauma victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. She also helps clients deal with PSTD, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, adolescent gang membership, and self-care management.
She began her career at age 19 while working at a juvenile hall correctional facility. She later transferred to a probation school with a more intimate setting – 50 probation kids. It was there that Rodriguez was able to see the impact of her work as she worked alongside therapists, drug counselors, case managers, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. As her peers in the social work and behavioral sciences community took notice of her passion of helping others, they shared knowledge and encouraged young Rodriguez to study and learn the craft to strengthen her skills as a therapist.
Melissa has a Double Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College and in Education and Counseling with a PPS credential from the University of La Verne. She became a licensed therapist in 2022, after having already accumulated over 20 years of experience working with at-risk youth, families, and gang members within a wide array of non-profit organizations in San Diego and Los Angeles County like the Juvenile Hall, YDC, Pacific Clinics, Manchester SEA, and Violence Intervention Program, Children’s Institute and many more.
Melissa values respect, trust, and creates authentic client-patient relationships through genuine care and concern. In Melissa’s presence, clients open up and get the compassion, listening ear, and understanding that they deserve and need. She creates the ultimate comfort zone and is known for her non-judgmental approach to mental health. Melissa has been trained in the following specialized methods of therapy, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Seek and Safety.