About Me

Melissa Gionta-Oliver, MA, NCC, LPC, CST

I am a licensed professional counselor that practices in Plum. I provide counseling services to individuals ages 15 and older. I graduated with my Master's Degree in Community Mental Health from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I have gained outside training in marital and family issues, sexual health and addiction, substance abuse disorders and trauma therapy. I am a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)* therapist. I am currently Certified Sex Therapist through AASECT** (American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors and Therapists).

* What is EMDR?

EMDR is used and shown to be effective in treating trauma and post traumatic stress disorder. When a traumatic or distressing experience occurs, it may overwhelm normal cognitive and neurological coping mechanisms. The memory and associated stimuli are inadequately processed and stored in an isolated memory network. The goal of EMDR therapy is to process these distressing memories, reducing their lingering effects and allowing clients to develop more adaptive coping skills.

** My training and course work with AASECT

The main focus of training is focused on marital issues and couples counseling. I have received training and education on surviving an affair, sexual addiction (pornography, sexting, multiple affairs and compulsive flirting) and compulsions, teenage pregnancy, sexual dysfunction and sexual identity issues.

I continuously educate myself within the field of human sexuality and to educate others while promoting healthy sexual relationships.