Melissa Zentner, LMHC
St. Petersburg Therapist Specializing in Trauma Recovery & Performance Optimization
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
With over a decade of clinical experience, Melissa supports individuals and couples in healing from trauma, navigating life’s challenges, and strengthening the skills needed to live and perform at their best.
About Melissa
Melissa has over 12+ years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples navigating complex emotional challenges. She specializes in supporting individuals when the stakes are high. Melissa helps clients recover from trauma, strengthen emotional regulation, improve performance under pressure, and rebuild trust and intimacy in their relationships.
Credentials & Education
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) — Florida | License #MH19567
M.A. in Counselor Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) through the North Carolina Child Treatment Program
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) through The Child Trauma Academy
Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Video Introduction
Who Melissa Supports
Melissa works with:
Children and adolescents recovering from trauma — navigating abuse, neglect, adverse childhood experiences, or traumatic grief
Families involved in court systems—CPS cases, custody disputes, high-conflict co-parenting, or trauma assessments for legal proceedings
Teen athletes managing performance pressure — competitive stress, confidence challenges, emotional regulation during competition, mental blocks, or recovery from mistakes
Adults healing from trauma — seeking emotional regulation, processing past experiences, or building clarity and resilience
Couples rebuilding after betrayal — recovering from infidelity, repairing trust, addressing sexual disconnection, or navigating discernment about the relationship's future
High-performing individuals and families—facing emotionally complex or legally sensitive situations where clinical clarity and grounded support are essential
St. Petersburg clients value Melissa's ability to remain calm and effective in high-stakes environments, whether that's a courtroom, a competitive arena, or the emotionally charged aftermath of betrayal.
Melissa’s Approach to Therapy
Melissa blends evidence-based trauma protocols with a structured, goal oriented approach. Her sessions are intentional, supportive, and designed to help clients feel more clear and capable.
She focuses on:
Processing trauma using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents
Strengthening emotional regulation and impulse control through practical, skill-based interventions
Rebuilding trust and intimacy in couples using Gottman Method research and trauma-informed relational repair
Supporting athletes with mental resilience
Providing trauma-informed assessments and clinical documentation for court-involved cases
Integrating sex therapy for couples experiencing desire discrepancy, avoidance, or disconnection
Creating individualized treatment plans tailored to each client's needs, whether through weekly sessions, group therapy, or intensive formats
Melissa works collaboratively with clients, families, legal systems, and schools to create sustainable, meaningful change.
What Melissa Helps Clients With
Melissa supports St. Petersburg clients experiencing:
Childhood trauma and adverse experiences
Court-involved family therapy and trauma-informed assessments
Custody-related stress and complex family systems
Anxiety, impulse-control challenges, and emotional dysregulation
Teen athlete performance pressure, confidence, and focus
Infidelity recovery, trust repair, and intimacy concerns
Adults exploring sex therapy and relational connection
Generational trauma and childhood traumatic grief
Melissa’s Background & Training
Melissa’s professional experience includes:
Trauma-focused therapy for children and adolescents using TF-CBT
Providing clinical testimony and objective documentation when required
School-based outpatient therapy and child day treatment programs
Supporting families impacted by generational trauma and traumatic grief
Performance psychology work with elite and competitive athletes
Her advanced training includes:
Specialized training in sex therapy and infidelity recovery
Ongoing education in trauma-informed, relational, and performance-based care
A Message From Melissa
“Whether you’re a parent trying to support a child, an athlete striving to perform at your best, or a couple rebuilding trust, therapy should feel grounded, purposeful, and supportive. My goal is to help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface—and give you the tools to move forward with confidence and clarity.”
Ready to work with Melissa?
We invite you to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with us to begin your healing journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is couples therapy actually effective after infidelity, or is the relationship usually over?
Yes — couples therapy can be highly effective after infidelity when both partners are willing to engage in structured, evidence-based work. Recovery is not about “moving on quickly,” but about rebuilding emotional safety, understanding the rupture, and repairing trust over time.
Melissa specializes in working with high-functioning couples using Gottman Method Couples Therapy to help partners stabilize emotions, reduce reactivity, and create clear steps toward repair, accountability, and renewed intimacy.
Can couples therapy help with intimacy and sexual connection after trust has been broken?
Yes. Infidelity often disrupts both emotional and physical intimacy. Melissa integrates couples therapy with sex-positive, trauma-informed work to address desire differences, sexual avoidance, resentment, and reconnection — even when nothing feels “clinically wrong,” but the relationship feels disconnected.
I’ve never been to therapy — how do I know if this will actually help me?
Many high-performing individuals seek therapy not because they are struggling outwardly, but because internal pressure, stress, or emotional patterns are limiting performance. Melissa works well with clients who value efficiency, structure, and clear outcomes.
Therapy focuses on understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, strengthening emotional regulation, and improving performance under pressure — not vague or open-ended conversations.
How does mental performance therapy help teen athletes?
Mental performance therapy helps teen athletes manage pressure, regulate emotions, recover from mistakes, and maintain confidence in competitive environments. Melissa works with high-school, club, and collegiate-level athletes to strengthen focus, emotional control, and mental resilience — skills that directly impact performance and long-term development.
Do you work with court-ordered or court-involved therapy cases?
Yes. Melissa has extensive experience providing court-involved family therapy, trauma-informed assessments, and clinically sound documentation when required. She understands the emotional and legal complexity of custody disputes and approaches these cases with professionalism, objectivity, and care.
Locations Served
Melissa offers in-person therapy in St. Petersburg and serves clients throughout:
Downtown St. Petersburg
Greater Tampa Bay
Clearwater
Largo
Pinellas Park
Seminole
Gulfport