Melissa Ledford, BSW, SUDP|RAAC

Operations Director & Primary Counselor

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Melissa has been an integral part of Contact Counseling Recovery Services since 2020. She originally came to Contact Counseling to help out her uncle, Steve, with the business side of what was then a small, assessment-only agency. Somewhere along the way, it became a passion project. Melissa has helped grow CCRS from those early days into the treatment and recovery program that Steve envisioned, while serving in operational, managerial, and clinical roles.

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Melissa has always been interested in how the mind works, particularly when it comes to addiction and recovery. Growing up around recovery and watching friends and family struggle with substance use helped shape both her interest in the field and her belief that people deserve treatment without judgment or stigma. She earned her Associate degree in Substance Use Disorder Studies in 2022 and her Bachelor of Social Work in 2026. She plans to return to graduate school for her MSW so she can better serve clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs.

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As a counselor, Melissa uses an eclectic approach rooted in Motivational Interviewing, CBT, MRT, 12-Step principles, and trauma-informed, strengths-based care. She believes good treatment starts with meeting people where they are, recognizing their strengths, and helping them build a life in recovery that is actually worth staying sober for.

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Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her tiny-but-mighty dog, Serenity, being a jack-of-all-crafts, going to shows and concerts, and getting lost in a good book.