.webp)
Melissa Roffman
About
Hello and welcome! I’m Dr. Melissa “Missy” Roffman, a counseling psychologist based out of my hometown Jacksonville, FL with licensure in Florida and Delaware as well as PSYPACT-authorization. Over the past 25 years, my training and career as a psychologist has included diverse experience in assessment, therapy, psychoeducation, and coaching, across university counseling centers, as well as private and VA healthcare clinics, including endocrinology, geriatrics, and Primary Care. My assessment experience includes comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD, autism, learning disorders, cognitive disorders/dementia, and personality and psychiatric diagnostic clarification. I’ve also served as the sole psychologist supporting the workplace well-being of healthcare staff, both clinical and non-clinical, across a large pediatric health organization.
Across these roles, I focused on supporting healthy coping and functioning in the major life domains—school, work/career, medical and mental health, relationships. Over the years, I couldn’t help but recognize the unique challenges, often systemic, for neurodivergent individuals navigating these life domains. I found it incredibly rewarding to help them advocate more effectively for themselves within these complex systems. Seeing them achieve happier and healthier lives is a major reason why I’ve chosen to specialize in working with autistic/neurodivergent clients!
In addition to my professional experiences with autistic/neurodivergent clients, I have other more personal reasons for choosing this path. Some of my very closest family members, friends, and I myself have all realized our neurodiversity (some autistic, some ADHD, some AuDHD) as adults, with age of realization ranging from 20's to 70's! All of us, looking back, had signs in childhood and some incredible strengths, as well as compensatory strategies, masking, and various challenges along the way. I have seen and experienced firsthand how powerful, validating, and life-changing it can be to get the diagnosis in adulthood, like putting the pieces of the puzzle together! It allows us to fully celebrate our unique strengths and wholeheartedly seek out the people, places, and pursuits in life that really FIT us. Knowing our diagnosis, along with a better understanding of our needs and preferences, can also help us access the resources, supports, and skills to function more optimally. Arming ourselves with these tools is the ultimate act of self-care, so that we don't continue to cope in ways that burn us out or negatively impact our health.
My clinical approach has always been strengths-based, rooted in positive psychology, focusing on helping individuals identify and build on their strengths. With all of my personal and professional experience, I'm well-aware of the unique strengths of neurodivergent/autistic individuals--but I know that the individuals themselves may NOT be fully aware of their strengths! A lifetime of masking and living in environments that reward neurotypical traits may diminish confidence, self-worth, and recognition of strengths. I provide a compassionate, safe, affirming, and collaborative space for clients for self-discovery and all the emotions that come with it. To obtain the thorough and accurate history needed for diagnosis, I believe it's essential to establish good rapport where my clients feel comfortable. My clients have always noted that I'm easy to talk to, with humor, warmth, and genuine curiosity in their story. I'm also insightful and good at seeing patterns, and believe that good assessment involves the convergence of multiple sources of information and "data points." I look forward to partnering with my clients on their journey of self-discovery and the exciting next steps toward a happier, healthier life!
