Lovely therapist and very knowledgeable
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker, Psychologist
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Melinda is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Melinda. View 14 reviews
- Great news, Melinda is accepting new clients!
- She is normally fully-booked.
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Florida and Florida
Recent reviews
I have worked with Melinda for a year now and she has help me with my confidence and growth so much, so caring, respectful and supportive
More about Melinda
- 32 years' experience
- Female
- Psychologist, LMFT
Hi, there! I go by "M.A.," though I have other nicknames, too. I'm a licensed family therapist and a licensed psychologist; I completed my graduate education programs in Miami, FL. I work from a multigenerational family systems approach and incorporate psychodramatic (& sociometric) methods into my clinical work; these are each relational in theory, in reality/in practice, and in the healing process. I believe in establishing clear boundaries and learning what someone's emotional needs are, so that they can make healthy choices and potentially get grounded as often as necessary.
I've been a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. This has included working with many different groups of people in various settings (e.g., private psychotherapy, inpatient drug treatment, high school counseling program, county drug treatment, outpatient psychotherapy, women's prison, drug court treatment, etc.). My focus at times has been on healing past personal trauma (e.g., sexual abuse/incest, rape, domestic violence, etc.), as well as anxiety, stress, depression, and borderline personality disorder - among other daily life challenges.
I look forward to beginning my work with you and hope you'll ask me questions about anything that will facilitate a useful & relevant experience in therapy for you, personally. I hope to hear from you soon!
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Addictions
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
LGBT
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Avoidant personality
Blended family issues
Body image
Caregiver issues and stress
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Emptiness
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
First responder issues
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Impulsivity
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Personality disorders
Phobias
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Smoking / vaping cessation
Social anxiety and phobia
Somatization
Traumatic brain injury
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1730397225.
- Psychologist · Florida · PY7080 · Expires May 2026
- LMFT · Florida · MT1504 · Expires March 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.
Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Lovely therapist and very knowledgeable
I have worked with Melinda for a year now and she has help me with my confidence and growth so much, so caring, respectful and supportive
Dr Lawless Coker (MA) - has / is an excellent therapist. She's helped me understand my key issues and give me the skills to move forwards. All from the other side of the world and our respective houses.
Dr Lawless Coker is a great support on my journey to self compassion, healthy strategies, understanding myself, healing from trauma, and dealing with challenges in life. She is encouraging and helpful and makes therapy feel less scary and intimidating.
Dr Coker is attentive and gets to the source of things. She's been helpful since day 1 and we've made great progress and have found multiple ways to stay connected since I have started my time with BetterHelp! I vouch for Dr Lawless Coker!!
We have only met once But I’m confident that Dr lawless will continue to be vital part of my recovery ❤️
Dr. Lawless Corker makes me feel supported, believed, and worthy. She sends me exerpts of things on topics we discussed during our weekly video sessions that are so helpful. She has gone above and beyond my wildest dreams for how helpful getting therapy from a psychologist could be. I truly feel like she is a partner in my journey of therapy. I am so lucky to have been paired with her.
I've enjoyed working with Dr. Coker!
Very caring and knowledgeable.
I have met weekly with Dr. Lawless Coker for the past 2 months. In that short amount of time, she has shared a lot of her knowledge and techniques with me to help me stay grounded and integrate self-care into my routine. She always sends the information on these concepts in writing after the session, so I can refer to them later and it allows me to focus on the session rather than taking notes non-stop. I also really appreciate that Dr. Lawless Coker took the time to ask questions about the people (and pets) in my family; this allows her to understand me better and I can say with certainty that her main goal is making sure I get better.
Dr. Lawless Coker's approach is really gentle and I love having things to practice to make sure I am incorporating self-care into my routine. She also provides lots of examples to help me understand new concepts. I'm learning a lot.
She’s great, I’m glad she’s helping me
Dr. Lawless Coker’s gentle and supportive approach is ideal for my needs. She guides without pushing too hard and never comes off as critical. I appreciate that she cares about my situation and offers me tools to work towards dealing with my issues.
Dr. Lawless Coker is a great counselor and a good fit for me. This is my first time with a counselor online and it has been a great experience.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker speak?
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker speaks English.
How many years of experience does Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker have?
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker has 32 years of experience.
Where is Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker licensed to practice?
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker is licensed to practice in Florida and Florida.
Does Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker accept clients outside of the United States?
Yes, Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker accepts clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker offer?
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker offers clients Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker?
Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Dr. Melinda Lawless Coker?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.