Welcome to Building Strong Minds
Meet Melissa Suard, LCSW
Melissa Suard is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Building Strong Minds, offering collaborative, strengths-based therapy for children & adults.
A former college athlete and foster youth, Melissa understands the pressure to perform and the resilience needed to overcome adversity. Her lived experience and clinical expertise allow her to help clients move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed to regaining clarity, confidence, and control.
Her approach is action-oriented yet compassionate, combining EMDR, CBT, DBT-informed techniques, and performance psychology. Melissa helps clients strengthen emotional regulation, manage stress, and perform effectively — both in daily life and under pressure.
Therapeutic Approaches
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR helps process experiences that feel “stuck” and impact emotions and relationships.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns.
DBT-Informed Skill
DBT-Informed Skills supports emotional regulation, distress tolerance, communication, and boundaries.
Mindfulness-Based Strategies
Mindfulness-Based Strategies builds awareness of thoughts, emotions, and body responses to reduce reactivity.