Melissa Albarenga, ASW
Therapist in Berkeley & Walnut Creek, CA
(She/Her/Ella)
Associate Therapist (ASW) | Staff Clinician | Bilingual Therapist (English/Spanish)
Experience
Melissa is an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) who earned her Master of Social Work from Cal State East Bay. Her path to becoming a therapist was anything but linear. For over a decade, she has dedicated her career to helping people reconnect with their strengths, discover their purpose, and create meaningful change in their lives and communities. She began in advocacy and community engagement, then expanded her work as a life and leadership coach, supporting people as they navigated personal growth and pursued lives that felt more aligned with who they wanted to become.
Today, she brings all of that into her therapy work, believing that real healing happens through self-understanding and connection. While Melissa stays deeply committed to systems-level change, therapy lets her partner with people in a more personal way as they navigate life's challenges, strengthen their relationships, and reconnect with themselves. Her clinical experience spans college-based mental health to clinic-based pediatric integrated behavioral health, where she supports children, young adults, and caregivers navigating anxiety, life transitions, parenting, and identity development.
Specialties
Anxiety and Stress Management
Life Transitions and Adjustments
Culturally Responsive Care for First Generation Communities
Young Adults
Parenting and Child Development
Client Focus
Young Adults Experiencing Anxiety
First Generation Individuals
Individuals Navigating Transitions
Services / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Psychoeducation
Attachment-Informed Care
Value-Based Interventions
Education, Licenses, and Trainings
Degrees
Master of Social Work, Community Mental Health — Cal State East Bay (CSUEB)
B.A., Chicana/o Studies — UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Licenses
Associate Clinical Social Worker — ASW # 139567
Certifications & Specialize Trainings
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trauma-Informed Care
Infant and Childhood Mental Health
A Bit About Me
You look like you have it together. You show up for everyone, remember every detail, and rarely let anyone see how much you're carrying. Your mind doesn't shut off, and somewhere along the way your own wants slid to the bottom of the list. Picture making a decision and letting it be, instead of replaying it all day. Saying no without apologizing for it in your head for hours. Sitting down to dinner and actually being there. That's what we work toward: a life that feels like yours, not everyone else's expectations.
Maybe you're the first in your family to figure out college, work, and adulthood on your own. You're the one who translates, fills out the forms, and helps everyone else while trying to find your own way. Somewhere in there, you lost sight of yourself. You overthink every decision, replay conversations for hours, and the moment you put yourself first, you feel a guilt you can't shake. You come from a family where you don't really talk about this stuff, so wanting a life that feels like yours can feel like letting everyone down. If any of this sounds familiar, know that you're not alone, and you don't have to have it all figured out before reaching out.
With me, therapy feels less like a formal appointment and more like a real conversation. I skip the jargon, ask a lot of questions, and actually listen before I say anything back. I’m not here to tell you who to be or hand you a checklist for your life. I help you get clear on what matters to you, so the answers you walk away with are your own. My favorite saying is “Raíces para crecer, alas para volar,” roots to grow, wings to fly. To me, it means honoring your experiences, your culture, and your story.
Even life's hardest moments can become part of your roots, and from there, you build your wings. Healing isn't about leaving your story behind. It's about learning to carry it in a way that moves you forward.
Outside the Office
Outside the therapy room, you'll find me spending time with my family, walking or hiking with friends, and hunting down new (and not-so-new) restaurants around Oakland. I love to travel.
Lately, I've been finding ways to honor my mom, who passed in March 2025, so I've been building my gardening skills and cooking her recipes.
If you're looking for a therapist in Walnut Creek or anywhere in California, Melissa offers a free 15-minute consultation to see if the fit feels right. Reach out to book a consultation here.