Melissa Daoud (she/her)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #119476

clinical approach

Relationships make life meaningful, and when they are not going well, they can impact our outlook on life by causing us pain and self-doubt. Life changes and challenges can intensify these difficulties. It takes courage and strength to ask for help, so safety and trust are essential to effective therapy. My goal is to provide a safe space where you can better understand yourself, identify patterns that no longer serve you, and learn strategies to change. As your therapist, I am here to walk alongside you through your journey, not to "fix you.” I am committed to providing a safe, warm, and non-judgmental space to begin your journey toward healing, growth, and a more fulfilling life. People who know me describe me as warm, kind, down-to-earth. I genuinely care about my clients and their well-being. I love to laugh and use humor in my clinical work when appropriate.

I have extensive experience working with youth and their families, providing individual therapy, parent support therapy, and family therapy to address various clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, parent-child relationship issues, anger, school refusal, learning disabilities, trauma, relationships, and life transitions. In addition to my school counseling experience, I have been providing outpatient psychotherapy since 2018 and have experience teaching DBT skills groups to teens in IOP and outpatient settings. I also enjoy working with couples and adults.

My approach to therapy is most informed by the Relational Developmental Systems Theory, where I consider how someone’s development, relationships, and environment play a role in what causes mental health symptoms. I am also trained in evidence-based care, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Family Systems Theory which I filter through a multicultural lens. When working with children and teens, working with families is critical to helping them get well and thrive. When I work with couples and families, I use the Gottman Method.

I'm passionate about working with parents, whether it's in parent support, through individual therapy for themselves or their child/teen, or in family therapy. I particularly enjoy working with immigrant parents and their children. I am a mother of 3 children, and my life experiences and cultural identity offers me a perspective to understand other bicultural parents in their parenting journey and help them realize they are the expert on their child/teen. I also enjoy working with anxiety and life transitions, which often go hand in hand.

about me

I identify as a Muslim-American female and converted to Islam in 2021. I have a nice blend of East meets West in my identity, culture, and values. As a member of a minority group, I observed firsthand how the lack of culturally informed psychotherapy was a barrier to care. I became a therapist to help fill this gap and create greater access to care for people from all cultural backgrounds and identities.

I love spending time with my children traveling, watching movies, and having fun in my downtime. Growing up, I also enjoyed sports and playing competitive softball, which fostered a love of being active from a young age. I enjoy riding my bike, attending challenge fitness classes, and hiking in nature.

One thing that gives me hope is working with youth. They have so much energy and hope for themselves and the world. I am consistently impressed by youth and their unwavering values to care for our earth and its inhabitants. I am confident the world will become a better place in their hands. I encourage my clients to discover and be authentic because living authentically and true to themselves and their values brings meaning to our life, which is the root of happiness.

services i offer

In-person & virtual sessions for:

• Individual Therapy (Children, Teens, Adults)

• Group Therapy

• Family Therapy
  
  
  

therapeutic modalities & practices i use

• Attachment-Based Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Circle of Security

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Developmental Model of Couples Therapy

• Family Systems Therapy

• Gender Affirmative Clinical Model

• Gottman Couples Therapy

• Humanistic Therapy
  
  

Specialties

• Anxiety

• Life transitions

• Parenting

areas of concern i work with

• Abandonment

• Abuse (Emotional/Verbal) (Offender)

• Abuse (Emotional/Verbal, Physical) (Survivor)

• Academic Problems

• Acting Out Behaviors

• Adoption

• Aggression/Violence (In Kids/Teens)

• Anger

• Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks/Disorder, Social)

• Attachment Issues

• Attention Problems/ADHD

• Bipolar

• Blended Families

• Bullied By Others

• Bullies Others

• Codependency

• Communication Difficulties

• Cultural Concerns

• Depression

• Depression (Peri/Post-Partum)

• Depression (Seasonal)

• Discrimination

• Divorce (Supporting Kids/Teens, Supporting Adults)

• Family Conflict

• Identity Exploration

* Areas of concern in bold are areas I'm particularly passionate about working with

education & experience

Education:

• M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University

• M.A. in Research and Experimental Psychology, San Jose State University

• B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Biology, San Jose State University

• Certified Child and Adolescent Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCAATP)

• Level 1 Team CBT Certification

• Clinical practice most informed by Relational Developmental Systems Approach

• Trained in Relational Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• In the process of becoming a certified DBT therapist

• Completed the Following Training from the Gottman Institute and uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her work with Couples:

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1: Bridging the Couple Chasm

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 2: Assessment, Intervention, and Comorbidities

  • Treating Affairs and Trauma: Helping Couples Heal and Rebuild Trust

  • Drs. John and Julie Gottman on the 10 Core Principles for Effective Couples Therapy

Work Experience:

• Therapist at Family Therapy Center (2022-present)

  • Specializing in culturally sensitive care, parent coaching/co-parenting, couples and family therapy, divorce, anxiety, identity issues, bridge care up to higher level care, or stepping down from a higher level of care.

  • Currently leading an applied DBT group for high school students.

• Therapist at Khalil Center (2018-2022)

  • Worked in an outpatient clinic serving culturally diverse children, teens, and families with various presenting issues, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, conflicts between parents and children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, pre-marital coaching, and couples counseling.

  • Worked as a school-based individual therapist to culturally diverse students ages 5-18 with various presenting issues, including depression, parent-child conflicts, academic stress, anxiety, difficulty regulating emotions, peer relationships, and behavioral problems in the classroom.

  • Also provided parent coaching to educate parents on supporting the child in the home and school environment.

• Therapist at Los Gatos Therapy Center (2020-2021)

  • IOP program, DBT, Outpatient Clinic

  • Worked as an IOP team member, developed and implemented DBT skills-based curricula for teens, and facilitated DBT skills groups for moderately high acuity.

  • Provided individual, couples, and parent support counseling and family therapy to mild to moderate acuity patients aged 5-65.

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at The Miri Center (2019-2020)

  • Provided educationally related mental health services (EHRMS) and school-based counseling services to diverse children and teens in grades K-12 at multiple schools per their IEP/504 plans with various health conditions such as autism, ADHD, emotional disturbance, processing disorders, and specific learning disabilities to work through mental health, relationship, and school-related issues.

• Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee/Associate at Adolescent Counseling Services (2016-2018)

  • In the on-campus counseling program, provided school-based psychotherapy to children and teens in grades 4-8th with various learning differences and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, school refusal, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

• Suicide & Crisis Hotline Volunteer and for Santa Clara County Prevention Line. (2008-2011)