Melissa McDonald Wertz, LCSW, CSW

Melissa McDonald Wertz is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Colorado with 10 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, grief, and a wide range of life changes. She also supports concerns like sleep and eating problems, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, and career stress.

Her approach is warm and interactive. She focuses on building a trusting relationship so people feel comfortable talking about hard things. Sessions are practical and collaborative, aimed at giving clear tools to manage symptoms and move forward.

Melissa uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside mindfulness, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and trauma-focused methods. She mixes techniques to match each person’s needs rather than following a single protocol. That means sessions can include skill practice, brief problem-solving, grounding for trauma, or coaching-style conversations when useful.

She has worked as both a therapist and a case manager, which informs a hands-on style that balances emotional support with concrete plans. That background helps when people need help coordinating care or navigating big life transitions.

Melissa is experienced with hospice and end-of-life concerns, veteran and armed forces issues, process addictions, seasonal affective disorder, and discrimination-related stress. She welcomes clients who prefer sessions in English and offers online formats for added convenience.

Online approaches that fit your goals

Melissa often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy to help people change unhelpful thoughts and manage overwhelming feelings. CBT focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior and trying small experiments to shift outcomes. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus during stressful moments.

She also draws on Motivational Interviewing when someone feels unsure about change. That approach uses open questions and reflective listening to help people clarify their own reasons for wanting different habits or choices. Finding the right mix of methods is a collaborative process - the therapist will work with each person to choose approaches that match their goals, pace, and preferences.

Online formats offered include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions let people practice skills face to face; phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited; brief live chat or messaging is useful for check-ins or coaching between sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules while staying connected with a licensed professional.