Dr. Melissa Vargo, Psy.D

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Melissa Vargo, is a licensed clinical psychologist offering therapy for children, adults and families through a strength based, holistic approach.

There are times when personal crises, loss or relational issues appear to be insurmountable. Although it is not possible to change difficult situations in the past, Dr. Vargo can work with you to resolve challenges in your life. She can offer you skilled guidance and support assisting you to experience a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Today you are one step closer on a positive path towards growth, empowerment and well-being.

Specialty Treatment Areas Include:

Trauma, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Grief and Loss
Cross Cultural Psychology
Parenting Issues
Child and Adolescent Developmental Consultation
School and Workplace Consultation
Assessment (i.e., IEP, Cognitive Testing, Legal Fitness, Personality and Violence Risk)
Children, Adolescents and Family Therapy
Relationship issues
Life Transitions
LGBT Issues

Dr. Vargo works with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues from a humanistic perspective providing services that span from parenting support to grief counseling. Dr. Vargo believes that the relationship between the client and therapist is fundamental in successful psychotherapy. As such, she creates a safe and trusting professional relationship with her clients, helping them to figure out where they are, where they want to be, and what’s impeding them from change. She believes that through personal exploration, clients come into a place of greater understanding, self-compassion, and ultimately personal growth Services are provided within a comfortable, supportive atmosphere.

Dr. Vargo has been providing therapy for over ten years. She graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove Oregon where she earned her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology. For five years, she was the Mental Health Coordinator at St. Mary’s Home for Boys where she was responsible for the management of mental health services for at risk youth, individual and family therapy, crisis management, and coordination of IEP School and psychiatric services. Additionally, she worked extensively with hospice and Project Quest where she was a bereavement counselor and where she provided services to individuals diagnosed with advanced stages HIV/AIDS, and chronic life challenging illnesses, who were seeking a wellness-focused approach to living and dying. After completion of her Doctorate degree, she went on to complete her internship at the Center for Multicultural Human Services outside of Washington D.C. There, she was responsible for writing asylum evaluations, providing trauma therapy and expert witness testimonies within the Federal court system for asylum seekers who had experienced politically motivated torture and trauma.

Many of Dr. Vargo’s clinical experiences have been related to trauma, human rights advocacy and the multifaceted concept of diversity. After her internship she spent three years living and working in an impoverished area in Brazil where she provided individual therapy, parental skills training, completed research and program development and conducted primary and secondary trauma trainings. Additionally, Dr. Vargo collaborated with local non-profit organizations and designed and implemented a program for the community focused on an ecological approach to sexual education. Her research has received international awards and recognition, including publication and sponsorship at the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.

In addition to her work as a therapist, Dr. Vargo is a Certified Forensic Examiner for the State of Hawaii and Chair of the Trauma Informed Model of Care at Hawaii State Hospital.

Office Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Please call Melissa to schedule an appointment: (808) 626-5006