Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic, LISW

Melissa Geiger-Dugandzic is a licensed independent social worker in Ohio. She has eight years of professional experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, and low self-esteem. Melissa aims to treat each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. She focuses on practical conversations that fit a person's life. Sessions often involve talking through current problems, building skills for coping, and setting small goals that feel achievable. Melissa adapts the pace and plan to match what each person needs. Melissa has worked with people who have served as first responders and veterans, and with adults dealing with gambling or substance use concerns. She also supports those coping with grief, mood concerns, obsessive thoughts and compulsions, and feelings of isolation. Her approach blends client-centered listening with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindfulness. She may also use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing when trauma is a focus. These methods are used to help people notice patterns, try different ways of responding, and practice new skills between sessions. People who reach out can expect a calm, straightforward style. Melissa emphasizes collaboration and clear next steps. She encourages small, steady changes rather than quick fixes.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and building a working relationship. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflects what is heard, and helps clarify goals and values. This approach is useful when someone needs space to talk through what feels most important.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, obsessions, and problem behaviors by teaching concrete strategies to shift thinking and routine. Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation and practical coping skills for intense reactions or impulsivity, including techniques to manage urges and improve distress tolerance.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods to try first based on goals, symptoms, and preferences. Plans are adjusted as therapy progresses so the approach fits the person's needs.

Session formats are not specified here, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy day, shorten travel time, or allow a quick check-in between other responsibilities. Many people find that regular remote sessions help them practice skills consistently while keeping therapy manageable alongside work or family life.