Beyond Borders CBT

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Meet Melissa Lillie, LCSW

Clinical Expertise

Melissa Lillie, LCSW (she/her), is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia, and Massachusetts. She provides therapy for clients ages 8 and up, offering compassionate and evidence-based care across a wide range of life stages. With over a decade of experience, Melissa specializes in anxiety and other concerns including: OCD, BFRBs, Anxiety and Tics/Tourettes. She also has experience working with Autistic individuals. Melissa is extensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). She treats all subtypes of OCD, including harm-related fears, Relationship OCD, contamination fears, existential obsessions, “just right” experiences, and unwanted sexual thoughts. Having navigated OCD herself, Melissa deeply understands the shame, exhaustion, and frustration that can accompany intrusive thoughts. She brings empathy and lived insight to her work and is an LGBTQIA+ allied provider.

Education

Melissa earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and completed her undergraduate studies at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. She has worked in both hospital and private practice settings and has extensive training and experience supporting clients with OCD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Tourette Syndrome, and BFRBs.

Personal

Melissa is an avid hiker and paddle-boarder who finds joy and peace in the outdoors. She’s a passionate traveler with an ever-growing list of places to explore and is happiest when digging in her garden, trying to keep her plants thriving. At her core, Melissa is committed to growth—constantly challenging herself to lean into discomfort, embrace uncertainty, and stay curious about the world.

In Their Own Words

Melissa was amazing in helping manage my OCD over the past several years. I went from severe disruption to my daily activities to moderate (potentially subclinical!) symptoms over the course of treatment. The treatment is hard and challenging work, but if you can push through, you'll get out of it what you put in. I also loved that medication was an option, not a requirement like some other OCD therapists I interviewed. My OCD hasn't "gone away," but with our treatment plan/strategies it has become very manageable. I'd highly recommend Beyond Borders and Melissa for others struggling with OCD!

—AP

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