Melanie Castillo

she/her

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)

Marital & Premarital, Divorce, Codependency, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression

Individual therapy, Family therapy

In Person & Online in Huntington Beach, CA

23 years in practice

Ages served: 18-64

Melanie accepts 39 insurers.

Aetna

Anthem

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Cigna | Evernorth

United Healthcare | Optum

All insurance carriers and plans

Adventist Health Associates | Employee Health Plan

Adventist Health Associates | Non-Employee Health Plan

Aetna

Aetna Medicare Advantage

Alignment Health Plan

Anthem Blue Cross of California | Commercial

Anthem Blue Cross of California | Medicare Advantage

Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

Blue Shield of California | BCBS

Blue Shield of California | Medicare Advantage

Carelon

Carelon | Medicare Advantage

Cigna | Evernorth

Cigna | Evernorth - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Compsych

Firefly Health Plan | Cigna PPO Network

First Health Network

Health Net | Commercial

Humana Medicare Advantage

Imperial Health Holdings Medical Group CA

Imperial Health Plan of California

JP Farley Corporation

Medicare CA

Multi Plan PHCS

Poppins Health

SCAN Health Plan Medicare Advantage California

Scripps Health Plan

Sharp Health Plan

Sutter Health Plan

Sutter Senior Care

Tricare West

UMR

United Healthcare | Optum

United Healthcare | Optum - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

United Healthcare | Optum Medicare Advantage

Uprise EAP

Ventura County Health Care Plan

Veterans Affairs (VA) TriWest California

Western Health Advantage

Self pay costs

Out-of-pocket session costs for clients who don’t have insurance or aren’t covered by their insurance for mental health services.

$200

first session

$170

subsequent sessions

Hi there! My name is Melanie, and I have 20 years of experience as a therapist. I know life can feel overwhelming, especially when it's full of stress, addiction, and relationship challenges. If you're grappling with anxiety, burnout, or struggling to break out of old patterns, let me help you. You don't need to keep suffering. Together, we'll explore your challenges, clarify your goals, and build strategies that help you find peace. I might even get a laugh out of you—humor is my favorite therapeutic intervention.

I enjoy incorporating solution-focused, cognitive behavior therapy, humor, and real-life anecdotes to help you get through difficult times. My therapeutic approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Person-Centered, and solution-focused modalities.

I look forward to hearing from you and helping you get in a good place, start living a life you want to live, get through past trauma's and family stressors. Let me help you start enjoying life again.

"As a therapist, human, mom, wife...and many other titles I have been through my fair share of life's challenges, let me help you get through your challenges."

Why did you decide to become a counselor or psychiatric provider?

I have had my share of family challenges, addiction, divorce amongst other things, I had a great therapist as an adolescent and wanted to share my gift of caring for others.

What types of clients do you work best with?

I work best with clients that are open to feedback, want to do the work to lead a better life.

What's one thing you wish all clients knew about therapy, mental health, or the healing process?

I wish all clients knew that therapy can be hard at times, but to stick with it and know that they deserve a therapist that is invested in their wellbeing.

SpecialtiesMarital & Premarital, Divorce, Codependency, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Psychosis, Suicidal Ideation, Thinking Disorders, Trauma / PTSD, Video Game Addiction, Weight Loss, Women’s Issues, Relationships, School Issues, Self-Harming, Self Esteem, Sexual Addiction, Sexual Abuse, Sleep / Insomnia, Social Anxiety, Spirituality, Step-Family / Blended Family Issues, Stress / Mental Stress / Work Stress, Substance Use, Mood Disorders, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Neurodiversity, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Open Relationships / Non-Monogamy, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Panic Attack, Parenting, Peer Relationships, Performance Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum, LGBTQIA+, Life Transition, Gender Identity / Transgender, Infidelity, Internet Addiction, Domestic Violence, Domestic Abuse, Dual Diagnosis, Emotional Disturbance, Family Conflict, Career Counseling, Coping Skills, Agoraphobia, Alcohol Use, Anger Management, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Bipolar Disorder, Body Dysmorphia, Body Image Issues, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

ApproachesPsychodynamic, Psychotherapy, Reality Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Strength-Based Therapy, Positive Psychology, Psychoanalytic, Multicultural, Person-Centered Therapy, Humanistic / Rogerian, Family Systems, Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Culturally Sensitive