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LCSW

Melanie Bannish, LCSW

  • Experience25 years
  • LocationMissouri
  • Focus areasADHD, Anger, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
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About Melanie

Melanie Bannish is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Missouri with 25 years of experience. Her professional journey has included international work in South America with children who had medical needs and engagement with indigenous communities and women's issues.

Background and approach

Back in the U.S., she coordinated a bilingual domestic violence program serving Spanish-speaking women and has worked with court-referred clients, employee assistance program participants, and people with disabilities. She combines clinical skills with an interest in spirituality and holistic healing, drawing on experiences such as participating in trauma treatment research and learning about meditation and wellness practices.

Her therapeutic approach is warm and compassionate, grounded in client-centered care and informed by modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, existential perspectives, and EMDR. Melanie offers services in both English and Spanish and is comfortable communicating by video, phone, text, or live chat depending on client preference.

She aims to help people navigating a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship and family issues, trauma, grief, caregiving stress, and many other life challenges. Her style emphasizes collaboration, listening, and attending to spiritual or holistic dimensions when clients wish to include them in treatment.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting, nonjudgmental environment where the client's perspective guides the work; it is useful for building insight, self-esteem, and trust in the therapeutic relationship. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift thought and behavior patterns that contribute to problems like anxiety, depression, and stress by using structured techniques and practical exercises. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused intervention that supports processing distressing memories and reducing their emotional intensity, often used for trauma and abuse-related concerns.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative rather than predetermined. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and needs with each person and may integrate elements from different modalities to create a tailored plan that fits the client's situation and comfort level.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules or to connect from home. These formats allow ongoing access to licensed professionals and support a variety of therapeutic tasks such as skills practice, guided reflection, and EMDR-informed interventions adapted for remote work.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with many issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, grief, relationship and family problems, compassion fatigue, and caregiving stress among others.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Their approach is friendly and compassionate, blending client-centered listening with practical techniques from CBT and DBT when appropriate.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Melanie brings 25 years of clinical practice, including international work and coordination of a bilingual domestic violence program.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Missouri license MO LCSW 002633 and practices in Missouri.
In which languages can sessions be conducted?
Sessions are available in English and Spanish, and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to preference and availability.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Anger managementSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImmigration issuesImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Missouri

Languages

English, Spanish

What Melanie can help with

Melanie Bannish works with clients on anger management, self esteem, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue.

Melanie works with children who have medical needs in South America.

Melanie works with court-referred clients, EAP professionals, and people with disabilities.

How Melanie approaches therapy

Melanie's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Narrative Therapy.

Experience and training

Melanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Missouri.