Melanie Canastra, LMHC
December 19, 2024
Senior Psychotherapist
Being able to come forward in therapy about personal life struggles is not an easy feat. Melanie (she/her/hers) recognizes this strength and believes that every person has a right to explore their own sense of self. She provides a supportive framework within her relationships with clients, and believes that people are capable of generating their own self-advocacy and self-empowerment to be able to cope with any changes throughout life. She creates a genuine, safe, and non-judgmental space, so that she and her clients can work towards collaborative introspection. Melanie’s overarching goal is to help clients foster their own personal growth. Being a native New Yorker, Melanie acknowledges the challenges of trauma and of asking for help. She hopes to facilitate growth within individuals, to be able to guide them on their journeys in healing past trauma, and to help them reconnect with themselves in present life.
Melanie’s therapeutic framework consists of utilizing client-centered therapy and relational therapy. She emphasizes the client’s power in helping them develop self-awareness and self-compassion. Her experience consists of working with individuals who come from diverse backgrounds, and she has facilitated healing group circles and sessions for the BIPOC and AAPI community. With mental health being so multi-dimensional, she has strong interests in helping clients to cope with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationship issues, family conflict, body image, LGBTQ+ issues, first- and second- generational trauma, cultural dynamics, racial community issues, and life transitions.
Melanie self-identifies as a cisgender, demisexual, spiritual, bicultural Asian woman.
