About Us
About Us
ForU Therapy is a pioneering telehealth mental health service designed to meet the unique needs of professionals in the entertainment industry. With a team of experienced, licensed therapists, FORU Therapy provides support for artists, musicians, athletes, creators, managers, and more, committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and fostering a culture of well-being within the industry. Founded by Melissa V. Rodriguez, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist committed to fostering hope in every individual through a nurturing environment built on trust, genuineness, and empathy. We firmly believe that therapy is essential for all, irrespective of mental health status, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
Recognized as the leading therapeutic resource for individuals in the entertainment industry, ForU focuses on a wide range of mental health issues. Our expertise includes trauma (such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse), PTSD, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, anger management, life skills, career transitions, self-care management, and more.
Our dedicated team at FORU upholds values of respect, trust, and authenticity, fostering genuine client-patient relationships rooted in care and understanding. With a non-judgmental approach to mental health, we strive to create a comfortable space where clients can freely express themselves, receiving compassion, understanding, and the necessary skills to thrive and progress in areas requiring support and guidance
“It’s important for my clients to know that there are good people in the world that truly and genuinely want to see them better themselves. It’s my job as a therapist to provide a safe place and the necessary skills to help them grow and flourish in areas that need support and guidance,” – Rodriguez says.
Mission
ForU Therapy’s mission is to enhance and advocate for the mental health of individuals within the entertainment industry. We are dedicated to providing all professionals—creators, artists, musicians, actors, publicists, agents, managers, and more— with access to essential support. Our goal is to cultivate a safe and inclusive environment while actively addressing the stigma surrounding mental health.
Founder
Melissa Valerie Rodriguez, LMFT
Melissa Valerie Rodriguez brings over 22 years of expertise as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in a wide range of areas, from working with adults, celebrities, and athletes to adolescents and at-risk youth. Her extensive experience includes assisting trauma/PTSD victims, managing grief and loss, addressing anxiety and depression, navigating relationship challenges, providing career counseling, fostering peer relationships, and guiding individuals in self-care management.
Melissa holds a Double Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College and in Education and Counseling with a PPS credential from the University of La Verne. Obtaining her therapist license in 2022, she enriched her practical experience accumulated over two decades of working with at-risk youth, adults, families, and gang members across various nonprofit organizations in San Diego and Los Angeles County, which include Juvenile Hall, YDC, Pacific Clinics, Manchester SEA, Violence Intervention Program, Children’s Institute, as well as entertainers and more.
Central to Melissa’s therapeutic approach are values of respect and trust, fostering genuine client-patient relationships rooted in authentic care and concern. Her empathetic presence encourages clients to open up, providing them with the compassion, attentive ear, and understanding they need. Renowned for her non-judgmental stance on mental health, Melissa has undergone specialized training in therapeutic modalities such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Seek and Safety.
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