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Melissa Craven Therapy

2 specialties

5.00

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.

Overall rating

5.00

Wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

5.00

Insurances accepted

This office is not in-network with any insurances

It's common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more

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Today, Apr 3 – Thu, Apr 16

Insurances accepted

This office is not in-network with any insurances

It's common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more

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Melissa Craven Therapy

Hi, I’m Melissa! I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #52019) with over 15 years of experience, including 14 years working at UCSF with clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life transitions. Many of the people I work with come to therapy feeling weighed down by self-criticism, worn out by worry, or disconnected from a sense of joy and creativity. My practice is built on helping clients reconnect with their inner strengths, rediscover a sense of possibility, and feel more at ease in their daily lives. My Approach to Therapy My specialty is Expressive Arts Therapy. This means we may use not only words, but also creativity—movement, writing, music, or imagery—as part of the healing process. You don’t have to consider yourself “artistic” for this approach to be effective. Expressive Arts Therapy isn’t about making a “good” painting or writing “beautiful” poetry—it’s about using creativity as a tool for discovery, regulation, and expression. Creativity can help us: Shift from overthinking into a sense of being. Express feelings that feel too big or complicated for words. Explore problems from new perspectives. Access playfulness and imagination, which are essential for healing. At the same time, I integrate evidence-based practices such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and relational therapies. This blend ensures our work is both creative and practical—you’ll leave with insights as well as tools you can use in daily life. My Philosophy I believe therapy is not about “fixing” you—it’s about helping you reconnect with the part of yourself that is already wise, courageous, and whole. Through the arts and relational therapy, I help clients: Transform self-criticism into curiosity. Cultivate a sense of safety and self-compassion. Build emotional resilience and coping strategies. Reconnect with creativity, play, and joy. Clients often describe feeling lighter after sessions, not because problems vanish, but because they feel more connected to themselves and less alone in carrying their struggles. Who I Work With I work with adults navigating: Anxiety and panic Depression and mood disorders Grief and trauma Perfectionism and self-criticism Relationship and family stress Life transitions (career changes, parenting, divorce, caregiving, illness) Creative blocks or loss of meaning My practice is inclusive and welcoming. I am LGBTQ+ affirming, neurodiversity-informed, and committed to honoring the individuality of every client’s journey. What You Can Expect in Sessions A safe, supportive environment where your story is heard without judgment. Space to explore both your struggles and your strengths. Tools from the arts and evidence-based therapies to regulate overwhelming emotions. Gentle guidance in approaching difficult issues with curiosity rather than self-criticism. A balance of depth and playfulness—therapy can hold both pain and moments of lightness. About Me I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a BA from UC Berkeley. My professional journey has included more than a decade at UCSF, where I supported patients and families facing medical crises and intense emotional challenges. I also teach and present in the field of Expressive Arts Therapy, sharing how creativity and imagination can support resilience. These experiences have reinforced my belief that healing happens when evidence-based care is paired with creativity, compassion, and human connection. What Clients and Colleagues Say Clients describe me as warm, creative, and practical. Colleagues note my ability to “hold the hard stuff while also inviting playfulness.” I’ve also been described as blending humor, compassion, and concrete tools into therapy, making it both grounding and transformative. Why Expressive Arts Therapy? Words are powerful, but they aren’t always enough. Many people come to therapy saying they feel “stuck.” Creativity can open the door to movement and insight. For example: Movement helps release tension and connect with the body’s wisdom. Writing can provide clarity and self-understanding. Imagery or drawing can give shape to emotions that feel unnamable. Music or rhythm can regulate nervous system states and reawaken vitality. When combined with talk therapy and evidence-based tools, these methods help clients move beyond old patterns and feel more alive. A Glimpse Into Session Work Sometimes it helps to see what expressive arts therapy looks like in action. These are brief examples (anonymized) of how clients have used creativity in sessions to explore emotions and discover new perspectives: Exploring Depression with a Pillow  A client feeling weighed down by depression explored a soft leather pillow—leaning into its comfort, reshaping it, and noticing the sounds that emerged. What began as heaviness shifted into curiosity, revealing new ways of relating to themselves and their emotions. Moving from Thinking to Being  An anxious client caught in overthinking practiced guided movement and imagery to shift from rumination to presence. This memorable experience gave them a calm they could return to when feeling overwhelmed. Restoring Playfulness Amid Self-Criticism  A perfectionistic client made playful marks on paper without worrying about “getting it right.” The page filled with unexpected colors and shapes—reminding them that creativity and healing often come through play, not perfection. Giving Grief a Shape  A grieving client used simple lines and shading to represent the weight of loss. Seeing the image gave form to what had felt unspeakable, and the drawing became a touchstone they could return to for comfort. You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from expressive arts therapy. The work is never about making “good” art—it’s about finding new ways to see, feel, and connect with yourself. Sometimes that means exploring with movement, sound, or imagery; other times it simply means noticing your breath or experimenting with a new perspective. Each creative step is an invitation to shift from judgment into curiosity, opening space for healing, growth, and even moments of joy. Common Questions Do I need to be artistic to benefit from Expressive Arts Therapy?  Not at all. This work is not about making “art” in the traditional sense—it’s about expression and discovery. You don’t need any experience with the arts to benefit. What if I only want talk therapy?  That’s absolutely fine. Some clients prefer traditional talk therapy, while others enjoy integrating creative methods. We’ll tailor sessions to what feels right for you. Do you offer telehealth?  Yes. I offer both walk-and-talk and telehealth sessions so you can choose what works best for your schedule and comfort level. How do I know if therapy is right for me?  If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself, therapy can provide tools, support, and new perspectives. Our first session is a chance to explore what brings you here and see if we’re a good fit. Next Steps Starting therapy can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone. My commitment is to create a safe, compassionate space where you feel supported as you work toward healing and growth. If you’re ready to take the next step, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Together, we can work toward easing anxiety and depression, loosening the grip of self-criticism, and helping you feel more grounded, connected, and alive.

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.

Overall rating

5.00

Wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

5.00

Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here

7 reviews

Most relevant

Melissa is a talented, kind, empathetic clinician. She has a deep clinical knowledge of DBT and expressive arts. Her creative mind is active making connections and inquiries which helps deepen the therapeutic process. She is also warm and has a sense of fun about her. Melissa really gets the challenges parents face. She is a wonderful therapist and excellent person to chose in your healing journey.

CDVerified patient

Melissa was compassionate and insightful as a therapist. She very quickly put me at ease as we got to know each other in our first session and she clearly did her homework in the time we spent out of session. In our next session, she had several ideas for ways to approach our work together and how I might deal with the issues plaguing me. I was impressed with her kindness, creativity, and flexibility. She truly listened to me and my body, responding to signs that I needed help creating a framework to safely observe my feelings from--and she actually helped me accomplish that! Melissa can help you unlock your own agency and power. She won?t just let you stew in an endless loop, rehashing old feelings and ruminating on negative thoughts. She will be a partner for much-needed change in your life. She has been for me.

SGVerified patient

Melissa has a wonderful way of facilitating groups. She's able to hold the group in a way that one feels emotionally safe, heard, and not judged but also keeps room for play and laughter. Melissa holds the rare ability to hold the hard stuff and invite playfulness too. I've experienced her facilitating style in a workshop setting. She is able to expertly guide her participants through expressive arts experiences that are not only fun but insightful. I can't recommend Melissa highly enough.

LPVerified patient

Melissa is great, creative, and her sessions were very active. She combines a lot of different types of art into her work which was a refreshing change from just talking about things with other therapists. She has a lot of experience from working at UCSF for over a decade.

JSVerified patient

Melissa has been a friend and colleague for almost 10 years. Her warmth, humor, sense of play and deep experience with expressive arts make her a wonderful therapist. You can always count on her finding creative ways of helping you reconnect with yourself. Don't hesitate to call her!

JAVerified patient

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June 15, 2023Abigale S.Verified patient

June 13, 2023Sara F.Verified patient

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