Hello, I am Melissa Upton. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi. I am also a National Certified Counselor with NBCC. I received my Master’s and Specialist’s Degree from Mississippi State University in School Counseling. I have 14 years of experience in school counseling and 25 years of experience in the public school system in Mississippi. I have worked with adolescents for 25 years. I am looking to broaden my horizon and begin a new phase in my life with more one-on-one counseling. I have observed in the past 25 years, the need for counselors in everyone’s life. I have worked with students in anger management, depression, coping skills, anxiety, relationship issues and ADHD, as well as academic and career planning in the school setting. I am looking forward to working with different age groups to provide counseling services in these areas and possibly more. My therapy style is client-centered and cognitive behavioral. I use the RIASEC model, John Holland’s career inventory model when providing academic/career counseling. I believe in treating everyone with respect and compassion. I believe counseling should provide a place to be yourself and work through conflicts that come with everyday life. We all need to practice “self-help” more than we do. Talking to a counselor is one approach towards helping yourself live a happy and balanced life. If you are ready to begin the “self-help” process and begin to have a more fulfilling and balanced life, I am here to support you and help to begin that journey. I look forward to working with you!