Melissa Pellegrino, DSW, LCSW, LCAS-A

Raleigh Site Manager

Dr. Melissa Pellegrino has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCW) for over 15 years.  She earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University at Albany and her Doctor of Social Work credential from the University of Southern California. She is also pursuing her Licensed Chemical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) certification.  

Melissa has gained a wealth of clinical experience working with various client populations in community mental health within various settings. Early on in her career, she worked with justice-involved youth in a residential treatment setting.  Dr. Pellegrino also has experience in crisis mental health with children, youth, and adults, having worked in a Trauma I Emergency Department in Raleigh.  

Dr. Pellegrino specializes in trauma treatment and is trained in providing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Melissa has provided clinical supervision to numerous MSW interns from all around the country, as well as new MSW graduates as they work towards full licensure.  Continuing to grow within the field to make a greater impact on co-occurring trauma and substance use treatment modalities is one of her passions. She is also a firm believer in how trauma informed care can provide clients with an optimal treatment experience. 

Krista Allen

Outpatient Therapy Clinic Manager

Krista Allen received her BS in Social Work from UNC Greensboro in 2011 as a child welfare scholar. After undergrad, Krista worked as a residential counselor in a psychiatric residential facility for children. She transitioned to work for Rockingham County foster care and adoption. Through this experience she became motivated to work towards systemic change in our child welfare system and to provide high-quality mental healthcare for children and families involved with child welfare. Krista returned to NC State and received her Masters in Social Work in 2015. Krista started with Carolina Outreach in 2015 on an intensive in-home team and became trained in Ecosystemic Family Therapy. She completed intensive training for dialectical behavior therapy and has provided DBT individual therapy and group to adults and teens. She also has additional training in clinical supervision, Cognitive Processing Therapy and MATCH, Modular Approach to Treatment with Children who have anxiety, depression, trauma and/or conduct issues. Krista became clinic manager for Raleigh in July 2019 and is the agency’s MATCH in house trainer. She strives to make her team feel supported and to continue to have services that set Carolina Outreach apart as an exceptional mental healthcare provider.