Octave
Melissa Rivera avatar
LMFTshe/her

Melissa Rivera

VirtualHigh Satisfaction Rate

8 years of experience

Verified by Octave

Licensed

In California

In-Network

Accepting 6 Insurance providers

Meet Melissa

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 8+ years of experience serving adults and couples in California. I provide couples and sex therapy, including infidelity recovery, ethical non-monogamy, and boundaries. I offer affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. For established clients, I provide emotional support animal (ESA) documentation and letters of support for gender-affirming medical care. I treat anxiety, OCD (using ERP), perfectionism, self-esteem, burnout, workplace stress, chronic pain, and grief, including death, relationship loss, and animal loss with relevant homework between sessions.

I offer a collaborative, affirming space where you can build practical skills, strengthen your relationships, and move through life's challenges with greater confidence.

Communication Style

  • Affirming
  • Creative
  • Exploratory
  • Instructive
  • Open-minded

Specialties & Approaches

Specialties

Focus Areas

Approach

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples [Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)]
  • Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP or EXRP)
  • Harm Reduction
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused

Licensed In

Locations

Virtual appointments available for California residents

Good to know

Session Details

Practices in

Languages

Additional

Interests

Outside of work, I enjoy vegan cooking and baking, dance, music (from punk, soul, Latin, and so much in between), cult classic movies, watercolor, ceramics, travel, and catching up with my queer community. I am a former cat lady, and now an amateur dog mom, to my rescue chihuahua-mix, SweetPea.

Insurance Accepted

Credentials & Verification

Verified by Octave

License number

#105924 • California • LMFT

Education

BA - Liberal Studies, Emphases in Behavioral Sciences and Education, University of California, Riverside MA - Psychology, Phillips Graduate Institute Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional Pet Loss Bereavement Specialist Certification, American Association of Veterinary State Boards

Melissa Rivera, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist License #105924 (exp January 2028)

Calculate Cost & Insurance

$28

/ session on average with insurance

What insurance do you have?

Frequently asked questions

Melissa Rivera accepts Aetna, Prime Health, Anthem Blue Cross of CA, Out-of-State BlueCard PPO, Blue Shield of California, and Health Net. 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 Rivera 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 105924, 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 Rivera has been practicing therapy for 8 years. Melissa’s education and training include BA - Liberal Studies, Emphases in Behavioral Sciences and Education, University of California, Riverside; MA - Psychology, Phillips Graduate Institute; Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional; Pet Loss Bereavement Specialist Certification, American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Over that time, Melissa has worked closely with BIPOC, Students, and LGBTQ+.

Melissa Rivera works with BIPOC, Students, and LGBTQ+ and specializes in Animal Loss, Anxiety, Body Image, Burnout, Caregiver Burnout, Couples Therapy, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Family Conflict, Grief, LGBTQ+, Life Transitions, OCD, Panic, and Relationship Concerns, among other areas. These are the areas where Melissa spends most of their clinical time. Melissa also sees couples together in joint sessions. 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 Rivera draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples [Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)], Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP or EXRP), Harm Reduction, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and Strengths-Based. In sessions, Melissa’s style is affirming, creative, exploratory, instructive, and open-minded. In Melissa’s words: “I offer a collaborative, affirming space where you can build practical skills, strengthen your relationships, and move through life's challenges with greater confidence.”

Melissa Rivera (she/her) offers therapy in English. Melissa identifies as Hispanic/Latinx. Melissa provides LGBTQIA+ affirming care.

Melissa Rivera 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 Rivera 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.

Learn how ratings and reviews work

Octave regularly asks clients to select a rating based on their experience about their provider about their therapy sessions. Providers are prohibited from soliciting reviews from their clients.

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

Similar therapists in California

Jennifer Rivera headshot

Available Oct 27 @ 9:30 PM

Jennifer Rivera

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Anxiety, Burnout, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress

View Profile
Heather Torres headshot

Available Oct 27 @ 8:00 PM

Heather Torres

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in ADHD, Anger Issues, Animal Loss

View Profile
Melissa Petrosian headshot

Available Oct 29 @ 5:00 PM

Melissa Petrosian

LMFT • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Anxiety, Burnout, Caregiver Burnout

View Profile
Braulio Villarreal headshot

Available Oct 26 @ 6:30 PM

Braulio Villarreal

LCSW • Clinical Therapist

Specializes in Addiction (not substance use), ADHD, Anger Issues

View Profile

Ready to start with Melissa?

Most new clients have their first session within a week. You can change therapists at any time, at no cost.

Book with Melissa
Browse more therapists

Book with Melissa