Melanie Giarratano, LMHC, LCMHC

Melanie Giarratano is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who blends research-informed insight with practical clinical experience to support clients through trauma, mood disorders, relationship struggles, and life transitions. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY College at Old Westbury. Her credentials, LMHC and LCMHC, indicate licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has worked with adults, teenagers, children, veterans, people with substance use concerns, and individuals with developmental disabilities, offering both group and individual care across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Melanie’s early research on PTSD in animal models influenced her understanding of the human stress response and informs her current work with patients who have significant trauma histories in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Her graduate training emphasized psychodynamic concepts such as human development, family context, and transference, which she draws on to personalize treatment and understand each client’s relational patterns. She uses a flexible mix of evidence-based methods, tailoring interventions to fit the client rather than applying a single approach.

Motivational interviewing is central to her practice for clients focused on change, while person-centered techniques provide support and encouragement for those who need affirmation and space to grow. Melanie often integrates solution-focused strategies and cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients identify and reframe unhelpful thinking, complete practical skill-building tasks, and work toward concrete goals. She emphasizes self-care in both her clinical recommendations and personal life; when not working she practices yoga, rides her bike, spends time with friends and family, plays with her dog, and enjoys outdoor activities and shopping.