Testimonials
We have had the privilege to work with many amazing individuals who dedicated themselves to healing and improving their lives with the help of therapy. Here are some words from a few of them.
I tried online therapy during a time of terrible stress and anxiety with my child. I was feeling guilty and having trouble sleeping. Over time, the stressful situation improved, and Melissa helped me work through my guilt and anxiety. I was surprised at how much better I felt immediately after therapy–tired but like a healthy tired–empty of the panic I had been feeling. Melissa is great at listening and helping me pinpoint what is bothering me about a situation, which helps me process it. Even now, I will become anxious about something and then remember specific things she said during therapy and I’m usually able to calm back down instead of spiraling into a heart-racing mess.
I was nervous before starting therapy, but Melissa is easy to talk to and personable. Without question, my quality of life has improved since I started therapy.
You will be lucky if you make it to tomorrow.” This is what I was told on the last night of my abusive relationship. I grabbed my daughter and changes of clothes and I left. I thought it was over. A couple weeks later, I was raped by the same man. I felt afraid, alone, and when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t even see myself anymore. I felt like everything good in me had been stolen. I decided that I needed help. This is when I met Christine. She has been there week after week helping me overcome my trauma. She has helped me through flashbacks and nightmares, self blame and self doubt. She has taught me how to create and maintain healthy relationships and boundaries. She has given me tools to succeed in my healing journey and live a happy, healthy life after therapy. She even helped me go back and heal my childhood trauma.
Ten months later, my life is one hundred percent better. I am happy and healthy. When I look in the mirror now, I see myself again. I see a stronger and wiser version of myself. Most importantly, I know my daughter can see me too. I will be forever grateful that I had Christine to lead me on this journey.
Melissa Craven is an excellent therapist. By talking with Melissa in therapy, I am able to make sense of the confusing thought patterns that cause so much stress in my life. Melissa is a compassionate listener and gently reflects what I say in such a way that I am able to gain insight into the problem areas of my life. Because I feel safe, supported, and at ease with Melissa, I am able to let go of some of the unhealthy patterns that I have created and work toward constructive changes that enhance my well-being and significant relationships. I am very grateful for Melissa’s care and therapeutic skills.
Christine has been incredibly supportive throughout the past several months as we work to heal and process trauma that occurred to me decades ago. Art therapy has been an excellent tool that she has introduced to me that helps make our therapy sessions more concrete. Meditation has been a practice that she has helped me develop in my everyday life which creates a sense of calm, understanding and acceptance. Lastly, Parts Work therapy has been instrumental in healing the trauma from my past by directly connecting to the parts of myself that have suffered in silence for a long time. The lessons I have learned and the things I have discovered about myself through Parts Work are incredible, and I highly recommend Christine and this form of therapy to anyone who is suffering from scars in their past.
I sought out the counseling services of Melissa during an extremely dark time of grief during the first few months of the pandemic. Melissa patiently and nonjudgmentally listened to my concerns, fears, and heartbreak. She shares her insights but only after asking permission to do so. She reserves her advice and guidance for when the client is ready and open to receive it. She is compassionate, empathetic, and incredibly insightful.
Melissa even shared with me some musical artists that she thought may resonate with my suffering and help with my healing. They did. I have remained in counseling with Melissa over the previous two years and quite frankly, I’m not sure where I would be emotionally throughout the pandemic without her care, concern and expertise. She’s helped me deal with the grief of losing my Mom to Covid-19 and also the previously aforementioned grief.
I have worked with a multitude of counselors/therapists over many decades and I’ve never known someone as motivated and dedicated to her profession as Melissa is. She is perpetually taking new training from a multitude of experts to continuously upgrade her already excellent clinical skills. Melissa is an A+ counselor and I highly recommend her services!
Melissa has been a literal gift from the universe. She has been my therapist for over two years and has changed my life. Thanks to her attentive care, I am less stressed out and have had fewer depressive episodes. She introduced me to a course of treatment that has been beyond successful and I would have never known about it if it wasn’t for her vast knowledge of different therapeutic treatments for my disorder. I am so thankful that I found her and can honestly say that I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her. She saved my life.
Christine Vazquez is a gifted therapist. She is gentle and very perceptive and yet able to switch gears with admirable rapidity, or stay in the moment when it’s productive. I have an advanced degree, am considered intelligent, and have consulted other therapists who use various therapeutic approaches, in an effort to get beyond some traumatic issues that were holding me back. It is with great relief that I can attest to the effectiveness of Christine and the imaginative and uplifting techniques she employs. She stays focused on progress while shining a gentle light on issues and old wounds that need to be addressed. She gets results.
I’ve found Melissa to be an excellent therapist over the last two years. She uses the just right combination of listening and posing thought-provoking questions. She genuinely cares for her clients. Melissa is gentle and kind. I can wholeheartedly recommend her.
I’ve been working with Christine for a year, and it has easily been the best therapy experience I have ever had. When I walk into a session, I want to feel safe and heard. Christine goes beyond that by gently leading me to my own decisions while encouraging kindness, honesty, and integrity. She is attentive, knowing when to bring new concepts to my attention when I need them and challenging me with gentleness. She honors my boundaries, and I have never once felt judged or shamed as a result of honestly sharing my struggles. She is someone who roots for me, and when I have a victory, she is excited with me and celebrates with me. The blend of encouragement, challenge, and structure that she brings has brought me to healing I thought may not happen anytime soon. I am deeply grateful for how diligent she is, and I am a better person thanks to her leadership and our teamwork.
Working with Melissa has gotten me through massive, troubling challenges as well as everyday issues and concerns. She is compassionate, empathetic and a keen listener, and she asks me insightful questions right when I need to dig deeper into the “why” of something I’m feeling or experiencing. I appreciate having her on my health care team, not only because during our sessions, she is there just for me, but also because it’s very valuable for my long-term wellbeing to maintain a regular relationship with her as my therapist.
Prior to working with Christine I found myself constantly stressed out and anxious. Even though it’s only been a few months I already find myself calmer, happier and able to weather difficult events in my life.
I have been seeing Melissa for almost a year and a half now, and it has changed my life. I’ve had extensive therapy before, but I didn’t grow or make steps like I have this time around. As a single working mom, I really enjoy the flexibility and comfort of being able to do it remotely.
I just went through my second divorce, and am finally addressing all the pain and trauma of my toxic marriages. All my therapy before was simply to help keep me afloat. Now I am finally getting out of survival mode and establishing boundaries, and feel great about it. All of the books that Melissa has suggested to me in our sessions have been great and thought-provoking. She does an amazing job of helping me see my worth and learn to thrive
Counseling means having an objective person to listen to your issues and help you fairly and objectively evaluate what you are feeling and what is happening. I’ve always believed that when you’re too close to a problem, sometimes it’s hard to see the problem. Melissa helps with that. It also helps to have someone to talk about your problems with on a regular basis so that you don’t become overburdened with them. Melissa is fantastic.
I have been in therapy on and off for a couple years now. I had worked with a couple different therapists before meeting Christine. Sadly to say, there were many times with these other therapists that I never truly felt heard or understood. Sometimes I even felt as if I was nothing more than a paycheck to them at times. With that being said, one of the biggest things that stood out to me with Christine from the very beginning, is how genuine she is. You can tell that she truly cares about each of her clients, and what they’re going through. When dealing with sensitive subjects as you do in therapy, the gentleness of her approach has always made me feel so comfortable to express myself and my feelings. It almost feels like talking to your best friend. She has helped me conquer more obstacles than any therapist has. I will always be grateful for her and what she does!!