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Melvin Barnes, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Melvin is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

FSA/HSA accepted
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Florida, Kentucky, and 1 more

More about Melvin

  • 37 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW

Melvin Barnes, LCSW, ACSW, ACHP-SW, BCD, has more than 37 years of clinical and administrative experience in the fields of geriatrics, psychiatry, health and physical rehabilitation, and clinical social work and supervision.

A board-certified diplomate in clinical social work, he is licensed to practice clinical social work and psychotherapy in the state of Florida, Kentucky, and New Mexico. He is also certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers and holds advanced certification in hospice and palliative social work and is a Board-Certified Telehealth Professional.

Mr. Barnes has held several positions throughout his decades-long career.

He is a former adjunct University of Southern California, Susan Dworak-Peck, School of Social Work, teaching online courses in integrative seminar and field practicum. He is also a former adjunct instructor at the University of Central Florida's School of Social Work, where he taught courses in social work research, clinical practice, and program development.

As a psychotherapist with former private practices in New York and Florida, Mr. Barnes has been as an Eclectic practitioner, applying evidenced-based psychotherapy techniques and interventions to the individualized treatment plan of his clients, helping to reach their goals.

SPECIALTIES

• Death, Dying and Bereavement

• Grief

• Compassion Fatigue

• Issues of Aging

• Stress, Anxiety

• Depression

• Addictions

Clinical approaches:

Strength-Based Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution- Focused Therapy

SERVICES OFFERED

Messaging, Live chat, phone, and video

First Name

Melvin

Last Name

Barnes

Therapist ID

Bio

Life’s ebbs and flows may at times challenge us both physically and mentally. What may have helped or hindered us to feel safe and whole in childhood, may or may not have supported us during our teens, young adult lives or in our sunshine years as an elderly person. Hence along this continuum of life from birth to death, we naturally attempt to maintain coping with life’s stressors. Perhaps you have experienced a recent event or feeling in your life continuum, and you are not sure how to deal with it. I look forward to working with you.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Grief Self-esteem Depression Compassion fatigue Addictions Relationship issues Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Intimacy-related issues Anger management Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coping with life changes Coaching Abandonment Aging and geriatric issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Avoidant personality Blended family issues Body image Cancer Caregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disability Codependency Communication problems Control issues Coping with natural or human-caused disaster Dependent personality Divorce and separation Domestic violence Drug and alcohol addiction Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues First responder issues Guilt and shame HIV / AIDS Hospice and end-of-life counseling Immigration issues Impulsivity Infidelity Intellectual disability Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Veteran and Armed Forces Issues Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Paranoia Personality disorders Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Postpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Self-harm Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse Sexual dysfunction Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Traumatic brain injury Visually impaired Workplace issues Young adult issues

Insurance Accepted

  • AvMed
  • Cigna
  • GEHA
  • Optum
  • Oscar Health
  • UMR
  • UnitedHealthcare

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Melvin Barnes's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1881031516.

  • LCSW · Florida · SW7453 · Renews March 2027
  • LCSW · Kentucky · 255029 · Renews July 2026
  • LCSW · New Mexico · C-11243 · Renews July 2026

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 allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Melvin Barnes offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Melvin Barnes 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 Melvin Barnes speak?

Melvin Barnes speaks English.

How many years of experience does Melvin Barnes have?

Melvin Barnes has 37 years of experience.

Where is Melvin Barnes licensed to practice?

Melvin Barnes is licensed to practice in Florida, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

Does Melvin Barnes accept FSA/HSA?

Yes, Melvin Barnes accepts FSA/HSA meaning you can pay for sessions with your pre-tax healthcare dollars. Every year hundreds of thousands of people use their FSA/HSA to pay for therapy.

Does Melvin Barnes accept insurance?

Yes, Melvin Barnes accepts AvMed, Cigna, GEHA, Optum, Oscar Health, UMR, and UnitedHealthcare.

Does Melvin Barnes accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Melvin Barnes 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 Melvin Barnes offer?

Melvin Barnes offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Melvin Barnes?

Melvin Barnes 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 Melvin Barnes?

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.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

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.

FSA/HSA eligible