Melissa Skarbek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Forensic Social Worker with nearly two decades of experience in social work and child welfare.

Her work reflects a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and advanced education. She graduated summa cum laude from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts, with interdisciplinary focus areas in Gender and Women’s Studies, Social Work, Business, Sociology, and Psychology. She later earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Arizona State University, graduating magna cum laude, further reinforcing her commitment to clinical competence and continued professional development.

Her professional background spans child welfare, mental health counseling, and forensic social work, with a focus on complex family systems and high-conflict custody matters. Melissa works collaboratively across disciplines to address multifaceted needs, bringing specialized experience in custody evaluations, reunification processes, and culturally responsive interventions. Her approach is trauma-informed and grounded in practical application, integrating expertise in forensic assessment, crisis response, conflict resolution, and advocacy to support meaningful and sustainable outcomes for families.

Melissa serves as Vice Chair of Alaska’s Health and Human Services Committee and is recognized as an expert witness within Alaska’s judicial system. She actively bridges behavioral health and legal systems, ensuring that clinical insight informs decision-making processes and that the experiences of children and vulnerable individuals are accurately represented and understood.

Her professional development includes training in EMDR, Brainspotting, custody evaluation, and child forensic interviewing, positioning her as a practitioner who prioritizes both clinical depth and adaptability in complex cases.

Outside of her formal roles, Melissa integrates animal-assisted elements into her work, most notably through her therapy dog, Homer. Homer is an active presence in her practice and broader professional identity, supporting emotional regulation, engagement, and rapport-building with clients across age groups. This integration reflects Melissa’s broader philosophy of meeting clients where they are and using practical, relational tools to enhance therapeutic connection.

Originally from Indiana, Melissa now calls Alaska home. She maintains strong ties to her community and cultural roots, drawing on the natural environment to inform a grounded, balanced approach to both therapy and forensic work.