Melissa Dumas is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience in the psychotherapy field. She specializes in guiding clients through the complexities of overcoming emotional and physical trauma. She also helps clients of all ages deal with grief, relationship issues, parenting, transitions in life, family conflict, self-esteem and stress management.

More than just your average therapist, Melissa changes lives and touches the hearts of her clients every day. She strives to ensure the person who walked into her office with a load of problems, walks out a new, confident and improved version of themselves, capable of achieving their life goals.

Melissa graduated from the University of La Verne with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and obtained her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University Long Beach. She became a licensed therapist in 2009 after having already accumulated six years of professional experience working as an in-house therapist for the Violence Intervention Program in Los Angeles. Melissa garnered valuable hands-on experience and established herself as a respected therapist among her peers with positions at YMCA, Penny Lane, Counseling for Kids and Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center.

In 2010, Melissa made a bold decision to launch her own practice. Choosing to be different than most of her colleagues, instead of using her name for her business, she titled it “U Help You.” The moniker mirrors Melissa’s strong belief that every person already has the strength, skills and great qualities to overcome their obstacles; they just need someone to show them how to access those tools within themselves.

Melissa’s genuine passion and desire to help her clients change their lives, sets her apart from the average therapist. More than a just a job, therapy is Melissa’s opportunity to help people overcome and walk away from unbearable pain that no one should have to suffer. Her most rewarding moments come when “a client is sitting in front me and finally, the light bulb comes on! It’s when they reach that point in their journey with me, that I know it’s all worth it.”

Melissa values the relationships she builds with each client, shaping each session to fit their individual needs, allowing them the best chance of finding their inner strength and living with confidence. Melissa has been trained in specialized methods of therapy including: Trauma Focus Cognition Behavior Therapy (TFCBT), Incredible Yours (IY), and Seeking Safety. She is a Clinical Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT).