About Melissa Parrish
Focus areas
Anxiety
Caregiver Burnout
Sensory Integration
Autism
Counselling For First Responders
Stress
Bereavement / Grief Counseling
Parenting Counseling
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Humanistic
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Integrative
Culturally Sensitive
Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
Identity
Gender
FemaleEthnicity
Hispanic or Latinx, White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Melissa Parrish
You’re keeping up with everything and still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or worn down inside. Your mind rarely quiets. You’re carrying grief or a major change. The same patterns keep leaving you depleted. You don’t need the right words, or to know exactly what’s wrong, to start.
I’m Melissa Parrish, MA, LPC, ASDCS, CCTP, CGP, founder of Center Within Therapy. I offer online therapy for adults and caregivers across New Jersey who carry more than most people realize. I help you move beyond pushing through, so handling what life asks of you doesn’t take everything you’ve got, and you don’t have to wait for life to get easier first.
I focus on anxiety, chronic stress, grief and loss, trauma, and caregiver burnout. I also have specialized experience with neurodivergent adults, parents of children with medical or special needs, and first responders and their spouses.
My approach is collaborative and centers on you as a whole person. I draw from CBT, person-centered and humanistic therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. Together we explore your patterns, how stress shows up in your thoughts and body, and practical ways to respond with more flexibility and self-compassion. Therapy includes making sense of what you’ve been through and practicing something different in everyday life.
You don’t need to perform or prepare a perfect explanation here. We work at a pace that fits you, with goals built around what matters to you.
I accept Aetna and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Self-pay is also available, and I can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Book a free 20-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
What should a new client know about working with you?
You don’t need a clear agenda to start. Plenty of people arrive knowing only that something has to change, or that they’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix. The first few sessions are for sorting out what brought you here, what it’s costing you, and what you want to feel different.
I’m active in session. I ask direct questions, point out patterns you may be too close to see, and help you identify practical things to try between sessions, drawing on CBT, mindfulness, and trauma-informed work. Some weeks we dig into where a pattern comes from. Other weeks we focus on getting you through the next seven days.
If something isn’t landing, tell me. I’d rather adjust than have you sit through an approach that isn’t working. We’ll check in on your goals regularly and change course when we need to.
Not every session will be heavy, and you don’t have to leave with a breakthrough. Progress often looks smaller: catching a spiral sooner, expressing a need you used to keep to yourself, or noticing a need instead of talking yourself out of it.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
We start with what brought you in, what life looks like right now, and what you want to change. You don’t need to organize your story beforehand. I’ll ask questions about your concerns, relevant history, strengths, and what has or hasn’t helped before.
From there, we set goals together. They might be feeling less consumed by worry, working through grief, saying what you mean in your relationships, or having energy left for everyday life. We make them specific enough that you can tell when you’re making progress, and we change them as your needs change.
Ongoing sessions connect what’s happening in your life to the patterns we’re working to understand and change. We might look at how you think and respond under stress, practice a skill, work through a hard experience, or pick one manageable thing to try between sessions. I draw from CBT, mindfulness, person-centered therapy, and trauma-informed care depending on what you need.
We check in regularly on what’s helping, what still feels hard, and whether we should adjust our approach or how often we meet. As you get closer to your goals, we decide together whether to keep going, meet less often, or wrap up.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
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In-network insurances
Melissa Parrish, LPC, MA has 50+ in-network plans.
Don’t see your insurance?
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
More information on payments and coverage
I’m in-network with Aetna and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (Horizon BCBS). Coverage, copays, deductibles, and referral requirements vary by plan, so before your first appointment, please confirm that I participate in your plan and that it covers outpatient telehealth therapy.
Self-pay is also available. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Reimbursement depends on your plan and isn’t guaranteed.
Payment is processed through my secure client portal, and I accept eligible HSA and FSA cards for eligible services. Missed appointments and cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are subject to a $100 fee, which insurance does not cover.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation to talk through what you need and whether we’re a good fit.
Education and background
Practice names
- Center Within Therapy
Education and training
- Montclair State University, Master's in Mental Health Counseling
NPI number
1457604050
How soon can I make an appointment with Melissa Parrish?
Generally, Melissa Parrish has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Melissa Parrish's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Melissa Parrish accepting new patients?
Melissa Parrish generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Melissa Parrish's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Melissa Parrish accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Melissa Parrish is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Melissa Parrish online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Melissa Parrish using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Melissa Parrish work with?
Melissa Parrish works with Center Within Therapy.
What are common reasons for patients to see Melissa Parrish?
Melissa Parrish frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Melissa Parrish on their profile.
What languages does Melissa Parrish speak?
Melissa Parrish speaks English.