Melissa Madriaga is a Wisconsin-based therapist who brings a calm, small-town perspective to her clinical work. She has more than six years of experience as a clinician, including over four years working with individuals in the incarcerated population and additional experience supporting people experiencing homelessness.

Melissa is open-minded and has worked with members of the LGBTQ community, and she is committed to serving underserved and marginalized groups. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University, earned in 2015, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Marian University, completed in 2010. She is licensed to practice as a professional counselor in Wisconsin.

Her professional background also includes seven years of service in the United States Army Reserves. Melissa recently founded Inner Balance Counseling, a private practice where she provides client-centered care.

Melissa works with people facing eating disorders, anxiety, depression, self-harm and cutting, life transitions, adjustment disorders, and suicide prevention. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy as her primary approach while maintaining a holistic focus on each individual’s needs. She has completed an Eating Disorder Certification Program to support that work.

Scheduling is flexible; if posted times do not align with a client’s needs, Melissa can often accommodate alternative appointments. Prospective clients can also find more information by searching her name on Psychology Today.

Outside of her practice she is a single mother to two daughters and shares her home with three cats and a yellow lab puppy. Melissa enjoys domestic travel, hiking, biking, listening to music, spending time with her daughters, and exploring Wisconsin’s natural areas. She aims to offer hope to those she works with and looks forward to providing support to new clients.