I believe that, in the words attributed to the poet Rumi, ‘life is a balance of holding on and letting go,’ and that it brings us growth and healing when we commit to understanding and working toward this balance.

My name is Melissa Mandell and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker. I earned my master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland Baltimore and my bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. I have experience providing evidence-based psychotherapy, person-centered care, coaching, and crisis intervention services for adult and young adult populations in community, outpatient mental health, home, and workplace settings.

As a therapist, I draw on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), and motivational interviewing (MI) to empower my clients to navigate life’s transitions and challenges. Together, we explore your values, build on your strengths, and develop practical tools for creating meaningful and sustainable change. My goal is to provide a collaborative and compassionate space where clients can reconnect with their resilience and move forward with confidence.