I love counseling children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

It has been a privilege to assist children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in times of changes, uncertainty, adjustments, and struggles. There are many different reasons to seek counseling in all stages of your life. Some reasons are to understand yourself and others better, improve communication, assist with marital changes, and difficult life changes or moments. Life throws us curves sometimes and we may feel stuck due to behaviors, influences, and circumstances.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I use an eclectic approach to counseling. This means that I am trained in numerous therapeutic approaches. In a counseling session we will explore emotional and cognitive barriers, past and present relationships, and collaboratively devise therapy goals. I would like to help assist you in a safe and therapeutic environment to provide some tools, support, or coping and problem solving skills in a nonjudgmental and caring environment. 

I have over 12 years of experience working in a business environment. I graduated with honors as a member of Chi Sigma Iota. I am also a certified EMDR Therapist.

MARRIAGE & COUPLE COUNSELING     

Couples come into my office with anxiety, hurt, pain, disappointment, stuck, unhappy, unmet needs, sadness, alone, and many other concerns and feelings. I appreciate all my couples and understand the difficulties of sharing your struggles. I would like to provide you with some tools, insight, understanding, and communication skills to help assist you in creating the type of relationship you desire.

I enjoy working with couples and may use Cognitive Behavior Therapy, IFS, Gottman Method Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and PREPARE & ENRICH for couples. I provide counseling for premarital, marriage, and relationship counseling.

I am trained in Gottman Method Couple Therapy Level 1 and 2. This is additional training based on over 35 years of research on what makes relationships last. I am also an Emotionally Focused Therapist.  Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) has over 20 years of empirical research. EFT helps couples understand the negative cycle they get stuck in and initiate new cycles of interaction to foster empathy and understanding. Gottman Method and EFT helps strengthen your connection and bond as a couple. I may use a combination of these skills to proivde counseling.

CHILDREN/ADOLESCENT COUNSELING

I also have over 8 years of experience working in an educational setting as a certified school counselor and a certified teacher.  Many of the children refer to me as Mrs. Friese (Mrs. Freeze).  I work with children and adolescents on a variety of issues. Some of the issues are adjusting to family changes, divorce, academic issues, adjustment difficulties, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, career exploration, grief, relaxation techniques, stress management, and social skills. I may use play, talk, EMDR, or art therapy in my counseling sessions depending on the need of the child or adolescent and situation.

ADULTS / INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

Life throws us curves sometimes and we may feel stuck due to behaviors, influences, and circumstances. I work with individuals who are struggling with a variety of circumstances. Some are addiction, anger management, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, ADD, mood disorders, conflict resolution, coping skills, relaxation techniques, stress management, communication skills, relationship issues, marriage concerns, career development, grief, infertility issues, gay/lesbian, obsessive compulsive, and post traumatic stress disorder.

Melissa Friesenhahn

Melissa Friesenhahn MA, LPC