Meet Your Therapist: Get to Know Melissa Paul, LCSW

I have always been drawn to people's stories.

For as long as I can remember, I have been the person asking questions, wanting to go deeper, genuinely curious about what is going on underneath the surface of things. When I got to Penn State and started studying Human Development and Family Studies in the Honors College, something clicked. I realized those were not just social skills. They were actually powerful tools to help people. That was kind of a turning point for me.

What felt like just being me turned out to be the work.

From there I went on to get my Master's in Social Work from NYU. But before I ever had a private practice, I worked in schools, in community based mental health, and in child welfare. Those experiences shaped everything about how I show up as a therapist. I have sat with people in some of the hardest, most complicated moments of their lives. I do not scare easily, and I do not judge.

The clients I love working with

People sometimes joke about wanting to be a therapist's "favorite client." Here is the truth: my favorite clients are the ones who are just exactly themselves.

I love working with clients where we can do the real work and still laugh together. Where there is genuine connection in the room. I love when clients let me be a part of their full world, not just the hard parts, but the wins, the weird stuff, the things that made them smile that week. The ones who show up authentically and let me actually see them.

That is when therapy feels like what it is supposed to be.

My approach: questions are my superpower

I always say that my main intervention is questions. Not because I am holding back on you, but because I genuinely believe the most powerful thing I can do is help you hear yourself more clearly.

I want clients to feel my warmth and my curiosity. I have a deep desire to truly know and understand the person I am sitting with. That does not always fully land in a first session, and that is okay. Think of it as planting seeds. We are just starting to build something together.

I also want to be clear about this: I am a real person in the room with you. The focus of therapy is always on you, not me, but I am not a blank wall either. I am not cold or clinical. I bring myself into the work because I think that is part of what makes it safe.

What I want you to walk away feeling

After a session with me, I want you to feel like someone genuinely wanted to understand you. Not fix you, not analyze you, not hand you a checklist. Just really wanted to know you.

That feeling, of being truly seen by another person, is not just nice to have. For a lot of people it is the beginning of something shifting. And that is what keeps me doing this work.

A little more about me

I trained at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, am a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and trained in EMDR. I founded MLP Therapy Group because I wanted to build a practice that felt warm and real from the very first interaction, a place where women and couples could come and feel genuinely met.

My work is anti-racist, LGBTQ+ affirming, and Health at Every Size informed. All parts of you are welcome here.

And outside of work? I am still that person asking too many questions at dinner. Some things never change.

Want to work together?

If something here felt right to you, I would love to connect. We offer a free phone consultation, no commitment, just a conversation to see if we are a good fit.

Schedule a free consultation

Call or text: 917-746-4207

Email: melissa@mlptherapygroup.com