Meet Melissa Ontko, LMSW | Therapist in Ann Arbor, MI

It’s time to get more of what matters most to you.

You’ve tried to think your way through everything, and you’re still feeling stuck. You wonder if life can feel better than it does right now.

You’re in the right place.

I work with clients who feel unable to get the joy they want from life because the inner worries and self-criticisms are getting too loud. I work with clients who know they are looking for more — more connection in their relationships, more satisfaction in their daily routines, more acceptance of themselves — but haven’t been able to get there on their own.


I believe deeply in the importance of living a life that fits your unique values and strengths, in order for you to feel like you can truly thrive. You don’t have to know what these things are for yourself right now or fully believe them (thinking about your strengths can be hard!) – this is part of the work we can do together. 


If you find yourself feeling chronically overwhelmed, dissatisfied or disconnected from your life happening around you, it does not have to feel that way. There is a lot we can do to reduce the time you are spending in your head and to increase the time you are spending feeling more present and satisfied from your routine and relationships.

Am I the right therapist for you?

We have endless information available at our fingertips, and people are talking about mental health more and more openly. This is great! Except…sometimes the amount of options and instructions for how to improve your life can just create pressure, guilt and overwhelm. Perhaps you’ve tried therapy before and found that the solutions were “easier said than done.” Maybe you’ve read advice online or in self-help books and then felt like you were failing when you didn’t get the same results. 

Making significant changes to your life is not one-size-fits-all, and I will never treat you like it is. My approach is centered on building upon the unique experiences and personality traits that make you who you are — and helping you to live in a way that feels true to that person, beneath all of the stress that you’re feeling right now.

I have worked with many people who feel hesitant to ask for help, or feel that they only need more self-discipline to meet their goals – hoping things will get better if they could “just” follow-through on what seems like a simple change. This usually leads to feeling more alone with your pain and more critical of yourself. The truth is that change is complex and looks different for everyone. 


As your therapist, I will help you to better understand the things in your life that have felt difficult to change. My style is compassionate, nonjudgmental and practical. We will discuss tools that can help in the short-term, and deeper self-awareness that can help in the long-term. I have worked for over a decade with clients of a variety of lived experiences, symptoms, and goals, with the common element of helping people feel less overwhelmed by their pain and more comfortable with themselves .

MY STYLE

Clients describe me as warm, genuine and nonjudgmental. I fully respect that you know yourself better than anyone, and I will treat you as the expert on your own life – which means that I will not offer generic solutions, and I will work hard to understand what is going to be most beneficial for you in your unique situation.


My style is both organized and flexible. I will keep our work connected to your goals, so that you can experience the progress you’re seeking – while also recognizing that therapy should be responsive to what you need, and these needs can change. I use a variety of therapeutic interventions to connect you with the tools that are the best fit for your style and needs.

Training & Education

  • Michigan Licensed Clinical Social Worker #6801093213

  • Master of Social Work from University of Michigan

  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Mary Washington

  • Specialized trainings in a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Problem Solving Therapy

  • Extensive experience in diverse clinical settings, including Veterans hospital, college counseling center, substance use disorder clinic, and clinical supervision of social work interns