Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
Hello! My name is Melissa Winston, and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Missouri. With a Bachelor’s Degree in education and many years of work with teens and families in the non-profit sector, I found myself feeling compelled to help more but not having the tools to do so. I went back to school to get my degree as a Marriage & Family Therapist from Capella University and have been working in various treatment settings for the past 10 years. The last five years have been specifically in residential work with adolescents and their families. I have a combined total of 22 years of experience working with teens and families.
I specialize in work with complex family systems that have experienced trauma – adolescents, individuals, couples, and families – learning to unravel that trauma and re-engage in healthy relationships with one another. Using a mix of systems theories, I work to meet clients where they are to help them find their own solutions to the problems they are facing. Therapy should be a safe space to process and be honest about whatever you’re thinking and feeling without judgement. Once we feel heard and seen, then we have the courage to go towards the healing we long for in our lives. I believe that all people have the capacity to change and that as we each work toward our own individual wholeness, we can then have deeper, more meaningful relationships. I am trained in trauma-informed care and primarily use Narrative, CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused modalities in the counseling room. I believe there is hope for even the most broken and painful relationship – if the individuals are willing to do the work on themselves. I am extremely passionate about people and will work as hard as you will to help you get where you want to go.
Outside of therapy, I love to decorate, to hang out with my husband and two teenage sons, and to spend time with my community. I also have two dogs (a sweet old Pit/Lab mix, Piper, and a one year old Havanese fluff-ball) who keep us all running. I am also passionate about organizational leadership and community development.
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Melissa Winston is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Missouri with a background in education and a long history of working with adolescents and families. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in education and spending many years in the non-profit sector supporting teens and families, she returned to school to complete her degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University. Over the last decade she has worked in a variety of treatment settings, with the past five years focused specifically on residential care for adolescents and their families, and a combined total of 22 years of experience working with teens and family systems.
She specializes in complex family systems affected by trauma, working with adolescents, individuals, couples, and whole families to untangle traumatic patterns and rebuild healthier connections. Her approach blends systems theory with practical, evidence-informed techniques so clients can be met where they are and guided toward their own solutions. Therapy with Melissa is intended to be a space where people can process thoughts and feelings without judgment, and where being heard and seen creates momentum for meaningful change.
Melissa is trained in trauma-informed care and regularly uses Narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused methods in her work. She believes that people have the capacity to change and that individual growth supports deeper, more satisfying relationships. She is committed to working as diligently as her clients to help them reach their goals.
In addition to her clinical work, Melissa holds professional licensure to practice marriage and family therapy in Missouri and also maintains licensure in Kansas. Outside of the therapy room she enjoys decorating, spending time with her husband and two teenage sons, and engaging with her community. She has two dogs – Piper, a sweet older Pit/Lab mix, and a one-year-old Havanese – and she is passionate about organizational leadership and community development.
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One major benefit is flexibility – clients can connect in the format that works best for them, whether that’s a video session, a phone call, live chat, or in-app messaging. This adaptability makes it easier to include therapy in busy schedules and to maintain continuity of care when life is unpredictable.
All participating therapists are licensed professionals, and clients have the option to switch providers if they seek a different therapeutic fit. For many people, the convenience and comparable outcomes of online therapy make it a practical and effective choice for addressing everyday mental health needs.
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