Melanie Epstein

LCSW
Behavioral Health Counselor
headshot of a person
Pronouns:
she, her, hers

CAPS providers support any student with any concern. Our providers also complete continuing education and specialized trainings. Learn more about this provider below.

Demographics

  • Cis Woman
  • Straight/Heterosexual
  • White
  • Culturally and Ethnically Jewish
  • Language: English and Conversational Spanish

Education & License

Melanie majored in Environmental Studies and Sociology and minored in Spanish at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA and studied at Cal State Long Beach where she received her Masters of Social Work.

CAPS Services & Teams

  • Counseling

Role at CAPS

Melanie is a part-time therapist assisting students through crises, challenges, and their self-exploration.

Specialty Populations

  • BIPOC
  • Immigrant
  • Neurodivergent
  • First Generation
  • First Year
  • Graduate/Professional
  • Non-traditional Students
  • Transfer Students

Specialty Areas

  • Academic Concerns
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Career Counseling
  • Coping Skills
  • Crisis
  • Depression
  • Family Conflict/Family of Origin
  • Gender Identity Concerns or Gender Dysphoria
  • Grief
  • Infertility
  • Life Transitions
  • Non-Suicidal Self-Injury/Self-Harm
  • Parenting
  • Peer Relationships
  • Performance and Test Anxiety
  • Pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Sexual Orientation Concerns
  • Social Anxiety
  • Spirituality
  • Stress
  • Women's Issues

Treatment Approach

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  •  Compassion-Based
  • Exposure
  • Feminist Therapy
  • Humanistic
  • Integrative
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Mindfulness
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural
  • Narrative
  • Relational
  • Solution-Focused
  • Strength-Based
  • Trans, Queer, and Gender-Affirming Counseling
  • Trauma-Informed

Professional Interests

Melanie utilizes an integrative approach because she recognizes that a "one size fits all" model does not work when providing therapy services to a diverse group of individuals. Melanie utilizes motivational interviewing, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy practice, and Internal Family Systems techniques as a basis of her care. Melanie is interested in giving her clients the tools and self-esteem to advocate for themselves in their personal and professional lives.

Personal Interests

Melanie enjoys spending time in nature, engaging in animal advocacy and quality time with pets, hanging out with friends and family during which she gets lost in a good time and loses track of time, and checking out new places to eat.