meet our trauma therapists

Melissa Gerson, LCSW

My therapy philosophy…

I believe therapy should be active and purposeful. Your time—and your financial investment—deserve care and attention. I regularly check in to make sure our work is meeting your needs and helping you move forward.

I draw from well-established, evidence-based treatments. No need to reinvent the wheel—brilliant researchers have spent years developing and testing these approaches. My job is to know them inside and out and apply them skillfully, in a way that fits you.

I believe people can grow and change through therapy. If that’s not happening, it’s not your fault—it means we need to shift the approach. Good therapy adapts.

My style…

I’m an active therapist who’s not afraid to share thoughts and feelings openly as they come up. I have over 20 years of experience, so there’s a natural clinical confidence in my work. I don’t get ruffled easily. I’ve also seen it all and have learned how to navigate a vast range of challenges.

Like any strong therapist, I’m particularly good at listening, synthesizing what you say, and presenting my understanding to you. This process makes you feel seen and heard, and it helps you understand yourself better, too. I’ll talk about myself when it’s helpful or validating to YOU, and we’ll have a few laughs when the time is right.

My most important credentials and successes…

I’ve spent the last couple of decades training in a vast range of evidence-based treatments. It’s a dizzying list of acronyms (e.g., CBT, CBT-E, CBT-AR, DBT, FBT, IPT, SSCM, FBI, and more). Among my most important achievements is my certification in Family-Based Treatment (FBT), a potent, life-saving modality for treating severe eating disorders in young people.

I’ve founded three centers for mental health over the last 20 years: two focused on treating eating disorders and this practice, Momentum Psychotherapy, specializing in the treatment of trauma. Since 2008, I’ve trained multiple generations of clinical professionals and have dedicated myself to clinical practice, writing, and presenting on a range of mental health topics for professionals and laypeople.

Fun facts about me…

I’m a big supporter of career changes! I was a professional ballet dancer before retiring at 26 and pursuing psychology. My kids and I started fostering rescue kittens last year. At the time of writing this, we’re on our tenth litter; we’ve raised over 30 little kittens for adoption. Lastly, I can get showered, dressed, and out the door in under five minutes!