About Me

MS_PROFILE PIC 4_28_21

Live Life On Your Terms

Melissa Stephenson, CEO, Mental Health Therapist, LCPC, LPC is the CEO OF U Matter Diversified Counseling And Therapeutic Concepts, LLC. UMDCTC was established in 2019 for the purpose of the provision of counseling to a diverse population based on individuality in need of alternative solutions to internal/external stimuli mentally impacting their ability to “Live Life On Their Terms”. “It is not your environment; It is not your history; It is not your education or ability; It is the quality of your mind that predicts your future”. Iyanla Vanzant

Person-Centered Approach

UMDCTC implements a person-centered treatment approach. The consumer thoughts, feelings, opinions, strengths, abilities are valued and they are treated as a person versus the focus on a condition or disability. Therapeutic support focus on support with achieving their individualized goals and aspirations tailored to their needs and individual circumstances as the consumer is actively involved.

U Matter Diversified Counseling & Therapeutic Concept, LLC
U Matter Diversified Counseling & Therapeutic Concept, LLC

Why Choose UMDCTC

UMDCTC staff is flexible the meet the consumer in the home, community, office, due to the understanding of “life on life terms”. UMDCTC respect consumer preferences, individual/family responsibilities, limitations, and other challenges that may pose as a challenge to the receipt of therapeutic support. UMDCTC support consumer autonomy as the driving force in the life.

UMDCTC Staff

  • Utilize a strength-based approach to meet consumer where they are based on strengths, abilities, personalities, life dynamics.
  • Promote a no judgment zone, embrace, individuality, race, color, sexual orientation, cultural practices, religion, disability (physical/mental), etc.
  • Focus on developing the therapeutic relationship that play a major role in the consumer’s desired changes.
  • Therapeutic role is the provision of consumer support with alternative tools to better cope with life's challenges in their environment.
U Matter Diversified Counseling & Therapeutic Concept, LLC

Education, Career, & Beliefs

Malissa Stephenson, CEO, MHS-C, LCPC, LPC, mental health therapist has over 20 years of experience as a mental health practitioner within various District of Columbia and Maryland areas. The roles include Mental Health Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Case Manager, Regional Trainer Specialist, Family-Centered Specialist, DC Officer Agent, Youth Care Worker II, Program Assistant, Health/Physical Education Specialist. I am also a member of the Maryland Counseling Association and American Counseling Association.

I identify myself to be a “change agent,” mental health practitioner, mental health therapist, etc. meets consumer’s where they are, implements an individualized multimodal treatment approach that supports the consumer with recognition of strengths also because “U Matter, What You Do Matter, How You Do What You Do Matter”-Iyanla Vanzant.

I firmly believe that building the therapeutic relationship is integral within the change process and paralleling suggestions and recommendations rendered within the treatment process.

My years of experience mainly entailed providing therapeutic services in the homes and community, meeting consumers without judgment, accepting individual strengths and challenges, and ongoing informed consent.

Goal

My goal is to work in a leadership capacity with at-risk youth/adults/families as a utilitarian and change agent in mental health and licensed clinical practitioner capacity to positively affect change in youth/adult/family’s life by supporting in a therapeutic role with tools to better cope with life's challenges in their environment.

U Matter Diversified Counseling & Therapeutic Concept, LLC