Risa Mendelson, LPC

Risa Mendelson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who centers her work on practical, skills-based therapy. She uses clear techniques rooted in cognitive behavioral ideas to help people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and life changes. Sessions are conversational and focused on what a person wants to change next.

Risa draws on a mix of approaches to match each person's needs. She blends cognitive behavioral strategies with client-centered listening and mindfulness practices. This lets her teach coping skills while also holding space for hard feelings.

She brings six years of clinical experience and a background in rehabilitation counseling and human development. That combination shapes a practical, problem-solving stance when people face physical health challenges, chronic illness, or traumatic brain injury. She aims to consider mental, emotional, and physical factors together.

Many sessions include concrete tools for anxiety and panic, techniques to rebuild self-worth, and steps for handling grief or caregiver stress. Risa also supports people dealing with career strain, relationship problems, addiction concerns, and mood conditions like bipolar disorder. Conversations tend to be down-to-earth and goal oriented.

Risa offers a range of formats including video, phone, live chat, and text messaging. She works with English-speaking clients in Michigan and uses an approach that adapts as goals evolve. New clients begin by matching to her through a short questionnaire and scheduling a first appointment.

CBT, DBT, and mindful approaches for online care

Risa commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT often focuses on small, practical experiments and skills for anxiety, panic, and mood symptoms.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy ideas for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT-based techniques give concrete tools for managing strong emotions and reducing impulsive reactions. Client-centered methods are part of her style too, offering warm, nonjudgmental listening so people feel heard as they try new skills.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will work together with each person to pick or combine techniques that fit their goals, preferences, and everyday life. Plans are adjusted as progress is tracked and priorities shift.

Online therapy is offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make sessions more flexible. Video lets people use visual cues during skill practice, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat is convenient for quick check-ins, and messaging supports brief ongoing work between sessions. These formats can help fit therapy into a busy schedule and make regular contact easier.