Children & Teens
Age-appropriate support for anxiety, ADHD, behavior, self-esteem, emotional regulation and school or family stress. Child therapy → · Teen therapy →
Confidential In-Person Counseling · Prairieville, Louisiana
Support for life's hardest seasons, and a path back to feeling like yourself.
I'm Melissa Shaw, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 24 years of experience helping children, teens, adults, couples and families work through anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges and big life changes.
- Confidential, in person
- Toddlers to seniors
- Accepting new clients
About Melissa
Collaborative, practical and grounded in your strengths
I believe people naturally move toward wellness, and that each of us already carries strengths we can learn to lean on. My job is to help you find them, put them to work, and build a foundation that lasts after our sessions end.
I began my social work career in 2002 in addiction and adolescent treatment programs. Since then I have worked in medical social work at an adolescent psychiatric hospital and at neurological and physical rehabilitation hospitals, as a clinician with the State of Louisiana Mental Health System, as a hospice social worker serving patients of every age, from newborns to centenarians, and as a high school wellness educator. In 2016 I founded Mind Spring Wellness Center, where I also offer coaching.
I favor brief, solution-focused work. The goal isn't to keep you in therapy. It's to help you leave with tools you can use for years.
Outside the office, I've been married 24 years and I'm raising four children: one in college, two in high school and a tween at home. The parenting and marriage conversations in this room are not theoretical to me.
LicenseLCSW-BACS, Louisiana #8247
EducationMSW, Louisiana State University
BSW, Southeastern Louisiana University
BSW, Southeastern Louisiana University
ExperienceSocial worker since 2002
Board Approved Clinical Supervisor
Board Approved Clinical Supervisor
Services
Who I work with
Adults
Anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, sleep problems, life transitions and building healthier coping skills. More on adult counseling →
Couples
Communication, conflict and reconnection, so you can understand each other again. More on couples counseling →
Families & Parents
Parenting support, family conflict and family cohesion, including single parents and blended families. Family counseling → · Parenting support →
Anxiety & Depression
Panic, constant worry, low mood and no motivation, treated with practical CBT and DBT tools. Anxiety → · Depression →
Grief & Loss
Support after a death, during a terminal illness, and for caregivers carrying it all. More on grief counseling →
College Students
Anxiety, burnout, homesickness and figuring out what comes next, off campus and private. More on college counseling →
Working Professionals
Burnout, stress and pressure, handled discreetly with no insurance record. More for professionals →
Areas of focus
Approach
Tailored to you, not to a template
Every person and family is different, so I draw on several evidence-based approaches and adjust them to fit your goals, your values and your pace. Sessions are confidential, and the space is safe and without judgment.
I welcome clients of all backgrounds. I treat all clients with dignity, compassion and professional respect, even if my personal beliefs are not identical to yours. Christian counseling is available for anyone who would like their faith included in their care.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Family Systems
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Psychodynamic
- Strength-Based
- Christian Counseling (on request)
Fees & Scheduling
Private pay, clearly priced
$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. Private pay keeps your care fully confidential, with no diagnosis sent to an insurer and no limit on the number or type of sessions.
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)
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
Frequently asked
How do I get started?
Call, or send a message using the form below, to set up a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk about what's bringing you in and whether I'm a good fit. If I'm not, I'll help you find someone who is.
Do you take insurance?
No. I'm a private-pay practice and accept cash or check. A small number of reduced-fee time slots may be available with documentation of income. They are limited and may have a waiting list.
Where are sessions held?
In person, at my office on Airline Highway in Prairieville, serving Prairieville, Gonzales, St. Amant and Baton Rouge, including the Highland Road area.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on your goals, but I focus on brief, solution-focused work. We'll set clear goals together and check on progress along the way.
What ages do you see?
I work with clients from toddlers through older adults, including individuals, couples and whole families.
Contact
Let's talk
Reach out to request your 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.