Melanie Giarratano, LMHC, LCMHC

Melanie Giarratano is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who brings a background in neuroscience and mental health counseling to her work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Delaware and a master’s in mental health counseling from SUNY College at Old Westbury. Melanie draws on four years of clinical experience in inpatient and outpatient settings. She currently works in an inpatient psychiatric setting and has experience with adults, teenagers, children, Veterans, substance users, and people with developmental disabilities.

Melanie tends to keep sessions practical and goal-focused. She listens without judgment and helps people set small, achievable steps toward change. She teaches skills to spot and shift unhelpful thinking patterns, and she uses homework like thought logs when it fits the client’s goals. She also emphasizes self-care and daily routines that support well-being.

Her background in research on stress and trauma informs how she approaches memory of fear and trauma-related reactions. She applies psychodynamic ideas about development and relationships to better understand a person’s history and current patterns. This helps when attachment issues or relationship concerns are part of the picture.

Melanie uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. She often uses motivational interviewing to clarify goals and DBT or mindfulness-based skills for emotion regulation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used when someone wants to examine the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Outside of work she practices yoga, rides her bike, and spends time with family and her dog. She encourages clients to find small self-care habits that fit their life and improve daily functioning.