Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic

Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) based in Ohio. She brings eight years of clinical experience helping people who feel stuck by stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and low self-esteem. Her approach is respectful and grounded in practical steps. She aims to meet people where they are and support small changes that add up over time.

Melissa works with adults who are coping with grief, mood shifts, anger, and compulsive behaviors. She also has experience with first responder and veteran concerns and with gambling and substance use issues. Sessions focus on clear goals, steady skills-building, and restoring everyday functioning.

Her sessions draw on Trauma-Focused Therapy, client-centered conversation, and evidence-based skills from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Melissa may also use EMDR and mindfulness strategies when appropriate to address traumatic memories and strong emotional reactions. The emphasis is on practical tools people can use between sessions.

Melissa tailors the pace and tone to each person. She listens for strengths, and helps people set realistic steps toward their goals. The work is collaborative and solution-focused, with attention to safety and pacing when trauma is present.

If someone is ready to begin, the process starts with a short matching questionnaire and scheduling. That first step helps clarify priorities and makes it easier to choose a plan that fits daily life and real constraints.

Therapeutic approaches for online work

Melissa often blends Trauma-Focused Therapy with client-centered methods to help people process difficult experiences while staying grounded in the present. Trauma-Focused Therapy in this context focuses on pacing, understanding reactions to trauma, and developing coping steps that reduce distress over time.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavioral experiments. CBT helps with anxiety, low mood, compulsive patterns, and problems like gambling or substance use by teaching concrete skills and tracking progress between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and comfort level. That plan can change as progress is made and as new priorities emerge.

Because session formats are not specified here, confirm available options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter or more flexible check-ins when needed. It also lets people continue care when routines or locations change, while keeping the focus on practical skills and steady progress.