Melisa Valeri Elieson, Ph.D., LPC-S, CMHC, CST, CPC, ABS

Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, as well as a licensed LPC-Supervisor. She is also a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with the State of Utah. She is a Certified Sex Therapist by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists and a member of the Texas Counselors Association. She is a Certified Professional Life Coach through the International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches. Lisa has completed Level 1, 2 & 3 Clinical Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and serves as the President of the Keller Counselors Association. She is also a recurring guest speaker at Texas Wesleyan University and local training organizations, as well as a presenter for SimplePractice Learning.

Her approach integrates Family Systems Theory with Cognitive Behavioral, and Solution Focused Models. Lisa believes counseling is a team process – and brings to the session some perspective and expertise on how life works, but recognizes that the client is the expert on their own life. She sees the client as an equal participant in their own counseling work, with the therapist as a guide. Her style as a counselor tends to be supportive and caring, but also assertive when identifying issues. Her goal for clients is for them to feel empowered as they chart their own course toward happiness, peace, and joy.

Her broad experience supporting juvenile detention centers, a local women’s shelter, a private psychiatry practice, and LDS Family Services has given her a unique understanding and appreciation of relationships, teenagers, women’s issues, and family dynamics. Her specialties are in faith-based counseling, couples, marriage, depression, anxiety, sexuality, women’s issues, adolescent and adult counseling.

Lisa grew up in the North Texas area. She majored in Psychology at Texas A&M University, graduated Cum Laude from The University of Texas at Dallas, and received her Masters in Counseling Psychology at Texas Women’s University in 2000, where she studied Bowen Family Systems Theory under Robert Littlefield, Ph.D. Lisa earned her Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Her dissertation examined the relationship between Sexual Desire Disorders and Family Systems Differentiation of Self Theory in Couples.

In her free time, she enjoys activities with her family and traveling to new places. She volunteers in the community as a High School Band Photographer, Keller Soccer Board Member, and teaches Marriage/Family classes at her church. She especially loves the study of people and human dynamics, and can often be found enjoying a book on the topic.