Melissa  Walker
Vetted

Melissa Walker

She/Her/Hers

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW-R Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
New York, Florida, Iowa, Vermont Accepting Online
Brooklyn Not Accepting In-person
Manhattan Accepting In-person
Updated January 3, 2024

Specialties & Expertise

  • Relationship issues
  • Life transitions
  • Loss, grief, and bereavement
  • Depression
  • Complex trauma
  • Adoption

Professional statement

Melissa Walker is a psychotherapist practicing with individuals, couples, and groups. Many people working with Melissa struggle with depression or anxiety. They may have trouble finding or holding on to meaningful connections with others, uncertainties about their career or life path, creative blocks, difficulty navigating major life transitions, or they may have too much (or not enough!) conflict with others. Melissa is particularly skilled at working with those who have endured challenging dynamics in their family lives, and also has expertise in working with adults who were adopted in infancy or childhood.

Melissa is trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy. This means that she takes into account the whole person, including their current circumstances, strengths, and challenges, the forces that have shaped them, those aspects of themselves that they are consciously aware of, and those parts sitting just outside awareness. Melissa is passionate about helping people better understand the connections between their past experiences and patterns in their current lives and relationships. Melissa listens attentively, with respect and curiosity, helping people put words to inner experience. Through this process, insight and self-awareness grow, along with a wider array of possibilities for oneself.

Melissa received her MSW from the Hunter College School of Social Work, and went on to obtain advanced post-graduate training in psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center. She worked in community mental health centers where she gained extensive experience with complex and acute trauma, on inpatient psychiatric units focused on the treatment of eating disorders, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions, and in a day treatment program for troubled adolescents. In addition to her work with her own clients, Melissa provides clinical consultation to early-career therapists individually and in groups, and is an instructor in a post-graduate certificate program for mental health clinicians.


Message to clients

It's been my experience that we often don't know what we think or feel until we hear ourselves saying it out loud. A good therapist can help you to say everything. Whatever it is you're struggling with, I encourage you to reach out. I'm happy to talk with you about how I might help.


Specialties

Relationship issues - Understanding one’s wants and needs in relationships; exploring patterns of interaction, addressing concerns, and strengthening satisfaction in relationships and dating

Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, career changes, or becoming a parent; exploring the shifts in identity that accompany these transitions

Loss, grief, and bereavement - Emotionally preparing for the anticipated passing of a loved one; managing feelings and reactions to a death or loss of significance; support during the process of healing and acceptance

Depression - Providing support and promoting healing of hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life

Complex trauma - Healing from long-term emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or neglect; coping with the impact of repeated boundary violations, rejections, or betrayals; recovery from deeply ingrained patterns of abandonment, neglect, or enmeshment in one's family of origin

Adoption - Working with adult adoptees to process the experience of adoption; exploring issues related to family dynamics, identity, loss, attachment, self-esteem, and relationships; support for those considering or involved in birth family search or reunion




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Couples
  • Parents
  • Teenagers (13-18)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

Melissa Walker is not in-network with any insurances.

Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.


Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $300 (45min)
  • Sliding scale: $200 - $300
  • Couples sessions: $325 (60min)
  • Group sessions: $80 (90min)

Additional session information

Out-of-network billing options

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:

  • Super billing
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly
  • Every other week
  • Multiple times a week

Location(s)

Online Sessions (New York)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Please inquire
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Manhattan practice
412 Sixth Avenue, Suite 403, New York, New York 10011
Accepting new clients in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Please inquire
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Brooklyn practice
699 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, New York 11217
Not accepting new clients in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Florida)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Please inquire
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Iowa)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Please inquire
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Online Sessions (Vermont)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon Please inquire
  • Tue Please inquire
  • Wed Please inquire
  • Thu Please inquire
  • Fri Please inquire
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 17 years

Private Practice , 2011 - Present
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center, 2011 - Present
The Fifth Avenue Counseling Center, 2014 - 2015
Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, 2007 - 2013

The Center for Group Studies, Modern Group Analysis, 2023
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center, Psychoanalysis, 2023
Hunter College School of Social Work, MSW, 2007


Licensure

New York: 078046

Florida: 000000

Iowa: 110680

Vermont: 089.0134473


Languages

English


Therapy Groups

Melissa  Walker
Grief and Bereavement Group

This is a 12-week group for those coping with the loss of a loved one. Members will have an opportunity to share their experience and seek connection with others who are also experiencing grief.


Client testimonials

"Melissa was patient, professional, and thorough in dealing with a client that I referred to her for group. She has a lot of clinical knowledge and she is generous with her time."
- Zencare client • October 2021