Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Bakersfield, CA

I am available to assist with many of the current issues that are affecting us all. Issues os depression, anxiety and PTSD are impacting many. Relationship and communication challenges are problematic. Challenging adolescents and children suffering from ADHD or Learning Disabilities are impacting family life. I can assist you with these common challenges, and help to provide and process solutions.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT 123208. I worked as a teacher and decided to go back to school and continue my education, to enable me to work with families, couples and individuals in a therapeutic setting. My focus is family, marriage and couples counseling. I have experience working with families that have unconventional lifestyles. In addition, I have experience working with couples, teens, groups and children. I have worked with the school district as a mental health counselor, as well as conducted group therapy in all settings. I am trained in Gottman Method for Couples and Bariatric Assessment certified.

•Couples Counseling •Specialization in Gottman Method and Sex Therapy. Individual Adult, Tween & Teen Counseling •Anger Management, ADHD, ADD. Certified Bariatric Assessments. Supervision for Interns. Family Therapy, and court appointed therapist for Reunification Therapy.

I believe that each individual has a purpose and that sometimes we need assistance in finding our purpose. Let me help you find your own purpose or regain focus on your life's path to feeling satisfied in the life you are living. I am available via online or in person and licensed in California and Arizona.

I provide compassionate, strengths-based therapy to support individuals navigating life’s most difficult seasons, including trauma, major life transitions, and grief. My approach centers on helping clients feel seen, supported, and empowered as they work through emotional challenges and move toward healing and resilience.

I specialize in grief and loss, adjustment to terminal illness, and anxiety. Using process-oriented and compassion-focused counseling techniques, I help clients explore their experiences at a deeper level while developing practical tools for emotional balance and self-understanding. I am also trained in Brainspotting, an evidence-based trauma therapy that supports clients in processing deep emotional pain and unresolved trauma in a safe and supportive environment.

My goal is to create a therapeutic space where clients feel understood, respected, and encouraged to grow at their own pace.

My name is Melissa Donate, LMFT, my passion is helping people navigate the difficulties of life. I am bilingual (English/Spanish) se habla Español. My specialty is working with children, youth, adults, LGBTQ+, and underrepresented communities experiencing depression and anxiety by providing a Person Centered approach with CBT/DBT and attachment foundations.

I specialize in supporting high-functioning adults navigating ADHD, burnout, addiction, and emotional overwhelm. My approach is direct, compassionate, and focused on helping you understand how your mind works—while building practical tools that create real, lasting change.