ECC’s Clinical Team

Bio here

As an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I view supervision as a deeply collaborative and relational process. My goal is to create a supportive, reflective, and empowering environment where clinicians can grow in confidence, clinical skill, and self-awareness. Supervision about developing competency and equally important ~ cultivating authenticity, curiosity, and a grounded professional identity.

I approach supervision through a systemic lens, understanding that the supervisory relationship itself mirrors many of the same dynamics that occur in therapy. I strive to build a genuine connection with each supervisee ~ one that allows for openness, trust, and mutual respect. I see our work together as a partnership where curiosity, humor, and compassion are welcome. Supervision is a space to explore not only clinical work but also the relational patterns that shape how we show up as therapists.

I tailor my supervision to meet each clinician where they are in their professional journey. Early-career therapists may benefit from more structure, modeling, and guidance, while advanced associates often need space for deeper reflection and autonomy. My goal is to provide both support and challenge ~ to help supervisees grow without feeling overwhelmed. Together, we set goals that evolve as confidence and competence deepen.

My name is Melissa Polanco, and I’m so glad you’ve made it here. Taking the step to seek support takes tremendous courage, it shows that you’ve begun to prioritize your well being, and that’s something to truly be proud of.

 Over the years, I’ve developed a strong passion for working with adolescents and young adults (ages 10-25), helping them navigate life’s transitions and challenges. Through both my personal experiences and professional growth, I’ve witnessed how transformative it can be to have compassionate support and guidance, especially when building resilience and the ability to bounce back from adversity.

I’m also certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and enjoy using this approach to help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and strengthen their sense of self-efficacy.

Life can bring challenges that leave us feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Whether you’re coping with stress, grief, or major changes, or simply feeling weighed down by daily struggles, it can help to have a safe space to process what you’re going through. Together, we can explore new perspectives, build healthy coping skills, and find ways to create more balance and peace in your life.

I work with individuals, couples, and families across all stages of life. Some of the concerns I often support include anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, grief, and life transitions. My approach is person-centered and trauma-informed. I focus on your unique needs, honor your story, and work with you to support healing and growth.

My goal is to offer care that fits your life and offer flexible scheduling. Please feel free to reach out with any questions—I’d be glad to connect and honored to support you. Together, we can create a safe space to explore your needs, build resilience, and move toward meaningful change.

As someone who has also been a client, I know how intimidating starting therapy can feel. I strive to create a safe, welcoming space where you can show up authentically, rest, and grow. I work with couples, families, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, or self-esteem challenges.

My passion is helping people examine their inner and outer systems so they can move forward with clarity and hope. In addition to being a therapist, I’m also a yoga teacher and mindfulness coach with personal experience of neurodivergence, offering practical, mindful, and realistic goals to support lasting change.

In addition to my work as a therapist, I’m also a yoga teacher and mindfulness coach. My personal experience with neurodivergence — both in my own life and with loved ones — gives me a unique perspective. I enjoy supporting clients with practical, mindful, and realistic goals that honor their individuality and help them thrive.

Welcome! I’m Anjali, a licensed associate therapist dedicated to creating a safe, supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions at your own pace. I work with children (ages 6+), teens, and adults, supporting challenges like emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, social issues, and work-life balance. I use creative, visual approaches tailored to each client’s developmental and emotional needs, making therapy feel approachable, compassionate, and engaging. I strive to create a safe and engaging therapeutic space by meeting clients where they are.

I integrate art therapy and DBT to support healing, growth, and self-expression. Through creative work and talk therapy, clients explore emotions and build resilience. I also offer mindfulness, grounding, and breathing techniques tailored to your needs, helping you develop skills for emotional balance and insight.

Not sure where to start with therapy? It’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Art therapy offers a gentle, creative way to explore emotions beyond words. By using imagination and self-expression, you can process challenges in a safe, supportive space. If you’re curious, I invite you to discover how this approach can support your healing journey.

I believe in a collaborative therapeutic process that prioritizes creating an inclusive and nonjudgmental space rooted in empathy, vulnerability, curiosity, and trust. My experience includes working with individuals and families who have experienced trauma, challenging life transitions, anxiety, and depression. I work with children 6 and older, adolescents, adults, and families. I am committed to working with you to find the best approach to your unique needs and goals to help you navigate life’s challenges authentically and encourage you to find sustainable change.

I offer an integrative, systemic, trauma-informed approach to therapy, focusing on honoring your individual experiences. We may discuss everyday stressors or delve into how past experiences have influenced you. My goal is to support you in using your strengths to live authentically and improve your relationships.

Finding a therapist who is the best “fit” can sometimes be an overwhelming and daunting process. Regardless of your reasons for being here, I’m so glad you are exploring getting support. If you have any questions or would like to explore if I am an appropriate fit for you, please reach out via email.

Navigating balance in life’s many areas can feel overwhelming, often leading to discomfort, hopelessness, and isolation. When your environment feels chaotic, it may seem impossible to create the time and space needed for meaningful connection—with yourself or others.

In our work together, you can expect the opportunity to build skills to address a variety of challenges. I specialize in supporting individuals who experience difficulties with self-identity, whether in relationships, self-image, self-esteem, or professional development. My approach is integrative and collaborative, tailored to help you develop coping techniques that feel authentic and supportive to your unique journey. I enjoy exploring curiosity and creative and authentic forms of self-expression with my clients—whether through play, nature, music, art, or other means. 

If you’re reading this, let me take a moment to honor the courage it takes to seek support. My goal as your counselor is to value the time, energy, and effort that you bring to this process and to create a collaborative space that fosters emotional safety and clear boundaries.

You hold it together on the outside. But inside? You’re tired of pretending “everything’s fine.” It’s not fine. Anxiety, sadness, stress, old hurts, messy relationships- it all piles up. And white-knuckling through it isn’t cutting it anymore.

I get it. And I’ve got you.

I work with kids, teens, and adults who are overwhelmed, stuck, and just done feeling this way. Panic attacks that hit at school, low moods that you can’t shake off, relationships that feel like an inescapable loop- I see it all. And no, therapy with me isn’t sitting in awkward silence while I nod at you. We’ll talk real talk. We’ll get real about what you’re facing and start building tools to help you rediscover a sense of self-worth and direction.

My style? Direct, compassionate, and never fake. I use CBT (to quiet the harsh inner critic), ACT (to help you stop avoiding your life and start living it), mindfulness (because your nervous system deserves a break), and creative/play therapy for teens and kids (so therapy isn’t torture).

This space is for you- whether you’re 8 or 80, single or partnered, falling apart or just ready for something different. You don’t have to keep pushing through on empty. Therapy can be where you finally exhale. 

So let’s be real: you reached out for a reason. You’re ready. Let’s get started.

Trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1)

I am here to meet you exactly as you are, wherever life finds you and whatever struggles you may be facing. My approach to therapy is person-centered, multicultural, and depth-oriented while remaining solution-focused. I bring an open-minded, caring, and culturally sensitive perspective to our sessions. I deeply value understanding your unique background and collaborating closely with you on your path toward healing and growth.

I work with individuals and couples, supporting clients across the lifespan. On couples, I have Gottman Level 1 Training. I also have an additional certification in solution-focused approaches. I’m bilingual and have lived on three continents, with years of experience in academia, which has shaped how I understand people and the challenges they face. Having seen how complex life can be, I strive to create a space where clients feel understood and supported.

In our sessions, you can expect genuine dialogue in an atmosphere that feels safe, supportive, and unrushed. My goal is to provide compassionate listening, thoughtful reflection, and gentle guidance, empowering you to take ownership of your own story and experiences. Together, we’ll create a space of acceptance, authenticity, and trust, where your voice is truly heard.

With kids, I use creative approaches like play, sandtray, and art. I believe in small steps forward, not pressure to be perfect. Together, we’ll work toward meaningful changes at a pace that feels right for you.

I look forwar

I would like to begin by saying that asking for help can feel frightening, especially in a society that often stigmatizes needing support. I deeply respect the courage it takes to open up about painful parts of your life and embrace the desire to grow and heal. Depression, grief, anxiety, and other struggles are powerful forces, and seeking help for them is an admirable act of strength. By sharing my approach and frame of practice, I hope to ease some of the worry that can come with beginning your therapy journey.

My work focuses on relationships and the stories that shape us. The messages we absorb often influence our beliefs and identity in unseen ways. By exploring these influences, I help clients deepen self-understanding, build agency, and open space for new perspectives, meaningful growth, and lasting change.

My goal is to use empathic listening and thoughtful questions to create a collaborative space where you can safely process life’s challenges. By modeling a healthy therapeutic relationship, I hope to help you strengthen your relationship with yourself and carry compassion and authenticity into your connections with others.

Do you wake up already feeling behind, spending the day trying to catch up only to end it drained and discouraged? Life may have once felt manageable, but now everything has piled up and you don’t know where to begin. It’s normal to feel worried or even ashamed when you’re struggling, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Together, we’ll tackle what feels overwhelming and find changes that fit your life.

My role is to help guide you toward your whole, authentic self. I draw on self-compassion practices to heal the parts of you that feel unlovable or unacceptable, and I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you recognize where you are and move toward the changes you want. Our work will be grounded in acceptance, curiosity, and steady progress.

Clients often tell me they feel comfortable, safe, and unjudged. I bring warmth, humor, and even a few nerdy anecdotes into therapy, because I believe healing can be both meaningful and human. I am passionate about this work and consider it a privilege to walk alongside each client as they grow, heal, and step into a more authentic version of themselves.

I often work with people who feel weighed down by shame, guilt, or self-criticism. You might believe, deep down, that you’re not good enough. You may feel stuck in old patterns, find it hard to truly connect with others, or feel uncertain about your place in the world. Some of my clients describe feeling like outsiders as they explore identity and belonging. Others come in struggling with depression, anxiety, or the daily stressors of life. While the details may differ, what I notice most is a shared desire for healing, self-discovery, and meaningful change.

My practice is rooted in compassion and a strengths-based approach that sees you as the expert of your own life. I adapt these approaches to fit your unique needs, always with the goal of helping you discover greater clarity, resilience, and empowerment.

I know how heavy the weight of unresolved emotional pain can feel, and I want you to know that healing and growth are possible. We will create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and goals. My hope is to help you move toward a life filled with deeper peace, connection, and fulfillment.

My approach to therapy is rooted in collaboration, compassion, and honoring each person’s unique story. I believe that healing begins with feeling deeply understood and safe to explore all aspects of one’s experience—including those that feel confusing, painful, or even shameful. My goal is to create a nonjudgmental, affirming environment where you can grow insight, reconnect with your values, and build a life that feels worth living.

I draw primarily from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), integrating cognitive-behavioral, strengths-based, and trauma-informed interventions to support clients in regulating emotions, navigating interpersonal relationships, and addressing self-defeating behaviors. My work is also influenced by my experiences in residential and PHP-level care, community mental health, and my commitment to continuous growth—professionally and personally. I welcome complexity and nuance in the therapy space, and I hold deep respect for the courage it takes to begin this process.

In addition to my work with adults and adolescents, I have experience providing therapeutic support to children through play therapy and other developmentally informed modalities. During my time as a school-based counselor in the UK and in community settings, I facilitated one-on-one sessions that used creative, expressive, and relational techniques to help children process grief, anxiety, trauma, and social challenges. I collaborate closely with caregivers when appropriate and strive to create an emotionally safe and engaging space for younge

My ideal client is motivated, open-minded, and ready to embrace therapy. I seek individuals willing to challenge themselves, try new approaches, and commit to personal growth. I work best with curious, reflective individuals open to change. Honesty and engagement in the therapeutic process are vital to me. Together, we’ll work through anxiety, depression, and life’s challenges, creating space for healing and growth. I enjoy helping clients deepen self-understanding, connect with their values, and make meaningful lifestyle changes that support balance and fulfillment.

My approach is holistic, weaving in tools for self-care, stress management, relationships, and overall well-being. I believe every person carries inherent value and wisdom. In therapy, we’ll explore how your thoughts, feelings, and actions connect, building awareness and empowering change. My aim is to provide a safe and supportive space filled with honesty,

I want you to find your own rhythm, build momentum, and step confidently into a life that feels authentic and free. My aim is to provide a supportive space filled with honesty, compassion, and relatability. In therapy, we’ll explore how your thoughts, feelings, and actions connect, building awareness and empowering change.

My ideal clients are individuals, couples, or families who feel weighed down by stress, anxiety, depression, grief, shame, or self-criticism. They may feel stuck in painful patterns, disconnected in their relationships, or confused by unconscious beliefs that keep them from living fully. Some struggle with identity, belonging, or life transitions; others feel overwhelmed by daily demands or the weight of unresolved trauma.

They come to therapy seeking relief, clarity, and new ways of coping. At the core, they want to feel seen, understood, and supported. Many long for stronger relationships, a sense of balance, or the freedom to live more authentically.

Their goals often include developing self-awareness, building healthier coping strategies, and creating space for healing and growth. They want to move past limiting beliefs, strengthen their resilience, and discover practical ways to live in alignment with their values, living a more fulfilled life.