Hi, I'm Dr. Laura Melendez. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 10 years of experience supporting adults healing from trauma, abuse, difficult relationships, and major life transitions. I specialize in working with survivors of domestic violence, coercive control, childhood and narcissistic abuse, grief and loss, and individuals who want to rebuild self-trust, strengthen boundaries, and create healthier relationships with partners, family, and friends.
I believe healing begins by remembering that much of the medicine we need is already within us. My role is not to tell you who you are, but to help you reconnect with your own strength, wisdom, and capacity to heal. Therapy should be a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely understood—not judged.
My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. I integrate EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, mindfulness, and relational approaches to help clients process painful experiences, better understand the stories they carry about themselves, and move toward lasting change. Together, we'll create a treatment plan that reflects your unique experiences, strengths, values, and goals.
I also recognize that our emotional well-being is shaped not only by personal experiences but by the relationships, communities, and systems we live within. Whether you're recovering from abuse, navigating anxiety or depression, grieving a loss, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can help you rediscover hope, clarity, and a greater sense of agency.
Reaching out for support takes courage, and I'm honored you're considering taking that step. I look forward to walking alongside you as you create a life that feels safer, healthier, and more aligned with who you are.
Additional areas of focus: Attachment issues, Codependency, Communication problems, Domestic violence, Family of origin issues, Guilt and shame, Immigration issues, Isolation / loneliness, Multicultural concerns, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Self-love, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexuality, Somatization, Women's issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
NJ LCSW 44SC06000300