Melissa Hogan, MA, APCC

Meet Melissa

I am an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor who works with children, adolescents and adults. I provide Parent support sessions as well to bridge the gap while working with their children. I focus on play-based child-centered therapy and I am trained in ERP to support clients with OCD. I also mainly support individuals experiencing struggles with identity and values, anxiety, OCD, NSSI, grief and loss. I use a client-centered and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approach based in Humanistic theory. I focus on true identity with self-acceptance and self-understanding. Self-Compassion is key to support the self to continue moving forward. It is important to meet the client where they are and move at each individual’s pace. If you’ve worked with one client, you’ve worked with one client. There is no universal support that works for everyone. We have to work together to see what works best for you – the client.

I enjoy facilitating groups and working with clients on an individual basis, emphasizing human connection to show clients that they are not alone. It’s important to empower clients to identify their strengths, promote self-love, and support them with their own specific personal goals and meet them where they are. Collaborating with the family to establish a healthy supportive system for the client is essential. I continuously and endlessly work to evolve my competence in multicultural awareness in order to provide a safe and understanding space for marginalized clients.

Education and Experience

I am a Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. I completed a Masters in Counseling at Loyola Marymount University, received the Associate Clinical Counseling degree and earned the PPS school counseling credential. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing from CSU Long Beach and earned an Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certificate from CSU Dominguez Hills. 

While studying and working full time, I worked as a substitute teacher in local districts. I worked in the non-profit community as a counselor supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I also worked as a counselor connecting with adult addicts in an IOP treatment center. I have worked at elementary and middle school levels as a school counselor. I’ve learned how to connect with individuals with different ways of thinking, different languages and those with nonverbal ways of communicating. Ultimately, it is my top priority to maintain a safe environment for individuals to process this thing called life.