Effective & Compassionate Therapy in
Melrose, MA
In-Person & Online Therapist in Melrose, MA
When Life Looks Good but Feels Overwhelming, A Therapist in Melrose Can Help
You feel like you’re one step closer to starting therapy, after hearing the umpteenth commercial for an online therapy platform today and having that feeling of, “Yes! Please! Someone help me like that!” Even though you believe in therapy and recommend it to everyone, you can’t believe you’re the one who might need to go now.
You’ve tried to do everything right. On the outside things seem okay, but inside you feel like you’re one disappointment away from completely breaking down.
Michelle Butman Collins, LICSW - Therapist in Melrose, MA
If one more person asks you, “What do you like to do for fun?” you feel like you might scream: “Nothing! I’m not fun! If it looks like I’m having fun, I’m lying! I’m dead inside! I don’t even feel sad, I’m just going through the motions.”
The thought of letting all of that spill out is strangely exhilarating… but also completely implausible. And you’re not even sure it’s totally true. Because sometimes you do have fun. It’s just that the feeling is precarious, there for a moment and then gone before you can really savor it.
People are always saying these years are supposed to be the best time of your life, but you’re not having a great time. You feel like you’re failing in relationships. You have friends, but you’re not even sure if they actually like you. Your job is probably good, but then what are you supposed to do with it? What’s next? Why does everyone act like all this pressure is some amazing stage of life? Do they just have it figured out better than you do?
You feel guilty because you have so much to be grateful for, yet you still feel lost. Like you’re living a fake life.
Therapy for Busy Adults and Young Professionals
I’m Michelle Collins, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (MA LICSW license number 115426, CT#14761 & VT #089.0134566 TELE) in Melrose, MA, and I specialize in helping busy adults and young professionals navigating life changes move through anxiety, indecision, and overwhelm so they can gain clarity, feel relief, and enjoy life with greater ease.
Many of the people who come to see me are thoughtful and capable individuals who care deeply about doing life well. They have built meaningful lives but still feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, self doubt, or the pressure to figure everything out.
In therapy, we slow down and explore what is actually happening in your inner world.
We look at the patterns that keep you feeling stuck and identify your strengths and natural tendencies that can help you move forward more confidently.
The goal is not to change who you are. It is to help you understand yourself more clearly and develop ways to work with your mind instead of constantly fighting it.
A Personalized Approach to Therapy
Every person brings a different story and set of experiences into therapy. Because of that, my approach is highly personalized.
Throughout my career of roughly twenty years and my personal life, I have gathered tools, training, and perspectives that allow therapy to be highly tailored to each individual I work with. I have accompanied people through graduations, job changes and losses, relationship developments and fractures, parenting transitions, retirement, caregiving and many other big and small changes that often bring confusing and upsetting feelings. While my primary influences are Solution-Focused and Narrative Therapies, I integrate principles from CBT, ACT, DBT, mindfulness and more, in order to find what works best for each individual. My goal is to help changes feel meaningful and transformative while still feeling natural and authentic to you.
Our work together is collaborative.
You bring your questions, experiences, and goals. I bring professional training, curiosity, problem solving skills, and supportive guidance. Many clients describe feeling they understand their reactions better through therapy with me and that they feel better equipped to notice where they can make changes to find relief independently in the future.
Together we create a process that helps you move forward.
How Therapy Can Help You Feel Like Yourself Again
• Feel overwhelmed by life decisions
• Struggle with anxiety or constant overthinking
• Feel like your life looks fine on the outside but feels difficult internally
• Question yourself after social interactions or decisions
• Have been thinking about starting therapy for a long time but keep putting it off
If you are looking for a therapist in Melrose, therapy can offer a supportive place to slow down, untangle the thoughts spinning in your mind, and begin moving forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Taking The First Step
Let's talk about what's bringing you to therapy in Melrose and what you're hoping to feel on the other side. Everything we discuss will be kept strictly confidential to support your privacy. Any legal exceptions to this will be explained very clearly at the start of therapy and are in place for your own protection.
Schedule a free consultation where we can discuss what the future can look like for you! You will be able to book a call on your own time through my online calendar after filling out a short webform.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy in Melrose, MA
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I'm a therapist in Melrose, MA offering in-person and virtual sessions for adults and young professionals. My practice, Michelle Butman Collins, LICSW, is physically located in Melrose and I also work with clients across Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut. Reaching out for a free consultation is a great first step.
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I help people struggling with anxiety, depression, indecision, and the overwhelm that often comes with major life changes. Whether you're navigating a career shift, a relationship transition, or just a persistent sense that something feels off, I help busy adults and young professionals find clarity, relief, and a greater sense of ease in their day-to-day lives.
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Your first session is where we start to build. Between information I will gather in advance and our first conversations, I want to understand what's brought you here, what's been feeling hard, and what you're hoping life will look like on the other side. There's no pressure to have it all figured out before we meet. I will ask questions to get to know your background, what brings you to therapy at this time, and what you want in your future. I want to learn what your version of “better” looks like to ensure we move in the best direction for you.
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I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a focus on helping adults move through anxiety, overwhelm, and life changes. As an LICSW, I'm trained to assess and treat a broad range of emotional and mental health concerns, and my approach centers on helping you build clarity and feel genuine relief. My former training in the hard sciences helps me take a practical, solution-oriented approach, particularly with sleep and insomnia concerns, and my roughly twenty years of experience give me the flexibility to personalize my approach for each individual. I have trained in Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, CBT for Insomnia, Motivational Interviewing and more. I enjoy continuing education to deepen my skills and keep my approaches versatile.
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Yes. In addition to working with clients in and around Melrose and Wakefield, I offer virtual therapy to people across Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut. Online sessions work the same way as in-person ones; you just need a private space and a reliable internet connection.
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I am what is considered an out of network provider, meaning I do not contract directly with any insurance companies at this time. You will be responsible for the full session fee (typically $180). Many insurance companies have out of network coverage and can reimburse you for a portion of this. I work with a company that helps you navigate the reimbursement process if desired. I encourage you to reach out directly so I can share current fees, since these details can change. I'm happy to talk through options during a free consultation so you have a clear picture before we get started. I want the process to feel transparent from the beginning.
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If you're a busy adult or young professional who feels stuck in anxiety, indecision, or the weight of a life change, there is a good chance we will work well together. The best way to find out is a free consultation. It's a low-pressure conversation where I will explain my approach and you can ask questions to get a feel for how I work.
In-person therapy in Melrose, MA
My office is located north of Boston in Melrose, MA, conveniently serving communities of Wakefield, Melrose, Stoneham, Saugus, Reading, Woburn, Winchester, Lynnfield, Burlington, Peabody and more. I live in the area and enjoy understanding these communities personally and professionally!
My office suite is fully ADA-compliant with a comfortable waiting area and free parking. It is easily accessible from I-93, I-95 and Rte. 1 and an 5-minute walk from the Wyoming Hill commuter rail station.
Online therapy in MA, CT and VT
Unable to make it to the office? No problem – I can see you for online therapy/telehealth if you are anywhere in Massachusetts, Connecticut or Vermont.