Anxiety & stress
Worry that won’t switch off, panic, overthinking, trouble sleeping, and a body that stays braced all day. More on anxiety →
Adult Counseling · Prairieville, Louisiana
Counseling for adults who've been handling it alone long enough.
Most adults I see aren't in crisis. They're tired, stretched thin, stuck in something that hasn't shifted in years, or quietly not themselves since something happened. I'm Melissa Shaw, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 24 years of experience, and I work with adults of every age, from young adults through seniors.
- Confidential, in person
- Young adults through seniors
- Accepting new clients
What adults come in for
Common reasons adults call
Depression & low mood
Heaviness, no motivation, going through the motions, and losing interest in things you used to enjoy. More on depression →
Grief & loss
A death, a diagnosis, caregiving, divorce, or a loss you never had time to sit with. More on grief →
Life transitions
A new job or job loss, marriage, a new baby, an empty nest, retirement, illness, or midlife asking hard questions.
Relationships & family
Strain with a partner, adult children, parents or in-laws, boundaries, and patterns you swore you would not repeat.
Trauma & old wounds
Things from years ago that still steer today, including childhood experiences you have never said out loud.
How adult counseling works here
Collaborative, practical, and aimed at an ending
We start with what you want to be different, in plain terms. From there we work on the patterns keeping it stuck and the skills that change them, drawing on CBT and DBT and on solution-focused work so sessions have direction.
I favor brief work. The goal isn't to keep you in therapy for years. It's for you to leave with something that holds up on your own.
Sessions are confidential and the room is without judgment. I treat every client with dignity, compassion and professional respect, even if my personal beliefs are not identical to yours. Christian counseling is available for anyone who wants their faith included.
I also see couples and families, so if what you're carrying involves the people around you, that work can happen in the same place.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Family Systems
- Strength-Based
- Christian Counseling (on request)
Practical details
Sessions, fees and location
$160Individual session
$280Couples session
15 minComplimentary consultation
A small number of reduced-fee time slots may be available. They are limited, set at specific times, require documentation of income, and often have a waiting list, so please ask at your consultation. I don't bill insurance, and I accept cash or check. Private pay keeps your care confidential, with no diagnosis sent to an insurer.
Office hours
- Monday
- 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Tuesday
- 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Thursday
- 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Friday
- 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (alternating weeks)
Early-morning and evening times fill up first.
Location
15655 Airline Hwy
Prairieville, LA 70769
Serving Prairieville, Gonzales, St. Amant and Baton Rouge, including the Highland Road area. All sessions are held in person, a short drive down Airline Highway.
Questions
Adults usually ask
Is what I am dealing with "bad enough" for counseling?
Almost certainly yes. You do not have to be in crisis to benefit, and coming in earlier usually means less to untangle.
How long will I need to come?
It depends on your goals, but I work briefly and with clear goals. Many adults do a focused stretch of sessions rather than open-ended therapy.
Do you see older adults?
Yes. I work with adults of every age through the senior years, including caregiving, health changes, dementia in the family and grief.
What happens in the first session?
Mostly listening. You tell me what brought you in and what you want to be different, and we decide together what the work should focus on.
Do you take insurance?
No. I'm private pay and accept cash or check. Sessions are $160. A small number of reduced-fee time slots may be available with documentation of income. They are limited and may have a waiting list.
Contact
Let's talk
Reach out to request a complimentary 15-minute consultation. I'll get back to you as soon as I can, usually within one business day.
To protect your privacy, please don't include detailed health information in this form. We can talk about that on the phone.