Melissa Mastrostefano is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Newport, Rhode Island. In her private practice, Melissa sees children, teenagers, young adults, college students, adults, and seniors, with a focus on grief and loss.
Melissa has expertise in grief, loss, trauma, depression, anxiety, chronic, and terminal illness. She is a grief and loss specialist, and is affiliated with Memorial Funeral Homes in Newport where she leads classes and workshops on the topic. Melissa also leads support groups and provides professional development workshops for organizations. In addition, as a certified Celebrant, she officiates and develops meaningful and personalized ceremonies to assist a community to heal after a loss.
Melissa is dedicated to learning best practices; her work is grounded in academic research. She studies under Rev. Dr. Rev. Lark d’ Helen, a Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist and URI college professor of Thanatology.
Melissa has an extensive social work background. She has spent time working in community mental health centers, schools, and a cancer center. Her thirty years of experience and training in various therapy modalities enable her to help her clients process powerlessness, change, guilt, and other difficult emotions. Melissa uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Existential Therapy, mindfulness practices, supportive therapy, restorative practices, and Soul Injury Treatment.
Loss and grief - Processing the loss of a loved one, any form of grief; processing the emotional aspects of personal illness or the illness of a loved one
Soul injury - A penetrating wound that separates one's self from their fundamental identity, shrinks their sense of goodness/beauty and leaves emptiness, disconnection and/or a belief of being damaged or defective
Trauma - Including dealing with past sexual assault, childhood trauma, environmental trauma (e.g. witnessing/experiencing violence), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
Depression - Sleep and energy disruption, overall mood disturbance, inability to enjoy yourself, and difficulty being motivated, amongst many other symptoms
Anxiety - Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks
Chronic & terminal illness - Managing chronic illness; receiving a diagnosis, contemplating and processing related emotions, viewing through a holistic lens
Pet loss - Processing the loss of a loved pet
This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:
South Shores Community Mental Health Center
East Bay Center
RI Student Assistance Services
Lifespan Cancer Center, Newport Hospital
Private Practice, Individual therapy with elderly clients at end of life
Columbia University, MSW
Insight Institute, Certified Celebrant
International Institute for Restorative Practices, Graduate Courses, Certified Trainer
Barrington College, BSW
English
This 8-week group run Melissa Mastrostefano, LICSW aims to help clients rebuild their lives through the allieviation of emotional distress that can be caused by unresolved grief.
Become a part of the Aquidneck Island Clinical Consortium (ACC) to receive support from other mental health professionals and attend regular, free professional development opportunities.