Melissa Willard

Melissa Willard accepts Blue Shield of California, Cigna Healthcare/Evernorth, Anthem Blue Cross of CA, Out-of-State BlueCard PPO, Aetna, Prime Health, and Centivo. Octave clients pay an average of $28 per session through insurance, and more than 95% pay less than $45 per session. Your exact cost depends on your plan’s copay or deductible. You can use the cost estimator to see what you would pay before your first session. If you would rather pay out of pocket, self-pay sessions in California are estimated at $205-250 per session.

Melissa Willard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Melissa is licensed to practice in California, so clients located in California can book sessions. Melissa’s California license number is 93335, and you can look it up through the state licensing board. Octave verifies every therapist’s license before they begin seeing clients, and licenses are kept current as a condition of practicing with Octave.

Melissa Willard has been practicing therapy for 10 years. Melissa’s education and training include MA - Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Phoenix. Over that time, Melissa has worked closely with First responders. Octave therapists average more than a decade of experience, and Melissa is part of that group.

Melissa Willard works with First responders and specializes in Anxiety, Burnout, Depression, Divorce, Family Conflict, Grief, IPV/DV, Life Transitions, Personality Disorders, Relationship Concerns, Stress, Substance Use, Trauma, Women's Issues, and Workplace Stress. These are the areas where Melissa spends most of their clinical time. If the concern you want help with isn’t listed here, a Care Navigator can tell you whether Melissa is a good fit or match you with another Octave therapist who specializes in it.

Melissa Willard draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and Strengths-Based. In sessions, Melissa’s style is challenging, empowering, humorous, open-minded, and solution-oriented. In Melissa’s words: “In my practice, I employ a direct and proactive approach to facilitate healing and growth.”

Melissa Willard offers therapy in English. Melissa identifies as White.

Melissa Willard offers online sessions over secure video, so you can meet from home or any private space. Melissa is licensed in California, and you need to be located in that state at the time of each session. All you need is a device with a camera and a stable internet connection.

Your first session with Melissa Willard is a chance to talk through what brought you to therapy and what you want to work on. Melissa will ask about your background, your current concerns, and your goals, and together you will start shaping a plan for your sessions. It is also a chance to see whether Melissa’s style feels like a good fit for you. After their first session, 9 in 10 Octave clients say their therapy experience has been good or better.

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Only clients who have completed a session with this provider can leave a rating for them.