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Melissa Divaris Thompson

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT

New York•New Jersey•Virginia

Anxiety-Couples counseling-Depression-Mindfulness-Perinatal mental health-Self-esteem-

See Melissa's Details for:

Accepting online

Waitlist in-person

Out-of-network with insurances

$100-$185

About Specialties Locations Insurance & Fees Testimonials Publications

Professional statement

Melissa Divaris Thompson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder and owner of Embracing Joy Marriage and Family Therapy PLLC in Midtown Manhattan. She specializes in working with adults and couples in their 20s and 30s. She particularly enjoys working with couples who are experiencing the communication challenges and uncertainties that arise during times of transition, such as moving in together, engagement, marriage, or becoming a parent. Melissa also provides individual sessions to women who are navigating relationship challenges or the transition to motherhood.

When working with couples, Melissa pays close attention to what is going on in the current moment and how each person responds to change. She strives to help the couple heal conflicts and grow together by creating an environment that is safe, impartial, and nonjudgemental. When working with individuals, Melissa focuses on strengthening the mind-body connection. With a background in yoga and Buddhist meditation, she helps her clients implement mindfulness techniques that they can use on a daily basis.

Melissa truly cares about each of her clients and wants them to achieve their fullest potential. She is excited to welcome new clients at her office, located near Grand Central and the 33rd Street subway station.

Message to clients

You may feel like you are functioning in life, but struggling underneath. With so much uncertainty in the world, you may be experiencing more anxiety, sadness, or overwhelm. Perhaps you are struggling in your intimate relationship, with your family or friends or by yourself. No matter your situation, talking to someone can be helpful to feel more grounded, clear, and less stressed.

In allowing ourselves to feel, we create a space within to open and grow. In our busy lives, we often forget our true nature and end up feeling stuck, tired, anxious and unhappy.

As a holistic and depth oriented therapist, my role is to support my adults and couples in finding wholeness — mind, body, and spirit — creating more joy, ease, and healthy relationships. I help my clients remember their empowered authentic voice and “tap back in” to their true self.

In a safe and warm environment, my clients are able to explore their past and their present, to understand what’s missing in their life, what they truly yearn for, and what is keeping them apart from that. Through this exploration, I help clients express their inner most desires, bringing more peace, balance, and happiness to their lives.

Work and Education

Private Practice

Licensure

New York: 000806 - Virginia: 0717001746 - New Jersey: 37FI00201200

Languages

English

Specialties

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

Couples counseling - Addressing relationship challenges and life transitions; strengthening communication and feelings of security, desire, connection, and love

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

Mindfulness - Practices to encourage a state of active, open attention on the present

Perinatal mental health - Addressing issues specific to women and families during the pregnancy and postpartum period, including postpartum depression and anxiety

Self-esteem - Cultivating self-compassion, assertiveness, and confidence; developing ways to reduce suffering, anxiety, social withdrawal, and self-neglect

Clientele

Adults (24+)
Couples

Parents
Young adults (18-24)

Locations & Hours

We offering sliding scale rates for psychotherapy for adults and couples!

Insurance

Melissa Divaris Thompson 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:$185 (45min)
Sliding scale:$100 - $185
Couples sessions:$185 (45min)

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

Payment options

Cash
Check
Credit Card
PayPal
Zelle

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

Therapist's note

Sliding scale: A sliding scale is available to a limited number of clients who need a reduced fee to receive therapy.

Professional endorsements

"Melissa exceptionally blends working experientially and tactically to support women and couples in making lasting changes."

- Vanessa Tate, LMFT • December 2019

"Melissa is a warm, dedicated, and knowledgeable practitioner. She brings rare enthusiasm and humor to her work, but the engines of her skill are her deep compassion and insight. Her clients are in very good hands!"

- Claire Colaço, LMFT • December 2019

Client testimonials

"I felt incredibly comfortable and heard while talking to Melissa."

- Zencare client • August 2021

"Melissa made it an easy process, and I felt comfortable talking."

- Zencare client • March 2021

Publications

Melissa

Therapy with Melissa Divaris Thompson

We interviewed Melissa Divaris Thompson and asked about their work with clients and guiding philosophies on therapy.

This provider has no upcoming call times available.