— Welcome, I'm Melissa Craven!
About me
I’m an LMFT and expressive arts therapist for adults.
When we’re really struggling, our closest friends and family can’t always provide the support we need. You’re here looking for a professional therapist to talk to, courageously considering making a change.
My approach is creative and active. We blend the arts (image, movement, sound, words) with well-researched methods (DBT, ACT, self-compassion) to move from analysis into experience, where learning lands in the body. Clients describe me as warm, direct, and curious; I’m as interested in your strengths as in your symptoms.
15+ years clinical experience, including close collaboration with psychiatrists
PMH-C certified, supporting adults during fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum
Program & teaching background: I developed expressive-arts curricula used in UCSF’s PHP/IOP and have led workshops and Grand Rounds on arts-based care
Philosophy: The process of art-making—not artistic “skill”—opens perspective, builds regulation, and returns agency to the client
Find contentment again!
Complete the contact form to find out more
You can also reach me at cravenexpressivetherapy@gmail.com or by leaving a voicemail at 415 940 3881.