Name: Melissa Moreno, LCSW-R
Licensing Info: Licensed Clinical Social Worker Psychotherapy “R” privilege [LCSW-R] in New York
Where You Live: Ellenville, NY
Amount of Time Working at Talkspace: 1 year
Time Working as a Therapist: 11 years
Why are you working in therapy/mental health?
I have always been drawn to helping people improve their quality of life. Having overcome many personal challenges, I know first hand how important it is to be able to help others and have someone available when support is needed. I knew as a child that I wanted to be a therapist and help people with their mental health. I am grateful for having the ability to touch the lives of so many people through the process of therapy.
Why did you start working with Talkspace?
I truly believe in the mission and philosophy of Talkspace. The flexibility of online therapy works for me works for me and allows me to connect with individuals from all over the world, many of whom would not otherwise have access or be able to afford counseling. It is exciting to be a part of such a cutting edge mental health treatment.
What is a Crisis Intervention Expert at Talkspace? What do they do?
A Crisis Intervention Expert serves as a support and coach to the Talkspace therapists. I am available for consultation when a therapist has a client in crisis. I offer support, suggestions, and guidance with the Talkspace protocols for clients in crisis.
Why is your work as a Crisis Intervention Expert important?
My work as a Crisis Intervention Expert is important for a few reasons. It can be very stressful for therapists when a client is in crisis. I am the support for the therapists. The other reason this position is important is because we are dealing with clients in crisis who need clear and efficient responses. These crises can be high-risk situations that need immediate responses and sometimes steps to ensure safety.
If you had one piece of advice for a therapy-seeker, what would it be?
The biggest piece of advice I would offer is to have patience with yourself. The platform of Talkspace can take some time to get comfortable with, so I always encourage new users to have patience and ask questions along the way.
Do you have a mental health hero?
I absolutely love Dialectic Behavioral Therapy [DBT], so I would pick Marsha Linehan and Alec Miller as some of my mental health heros.
Note: To work with Melissa, you must sign up for Talkspace and live in the state she is licensed in.
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