Creative Healing with Jen Mele
Creative Healing with Jen Mele
(she/her)
Welcome to Creative Healing! I'm owner and group therapist Jen Mele LCSW EYT-200. You've taken the next steps to get support which means you're already taking care of yourself. We help Adults, Young Adults, Teens and Families with depression, anxiety, adhd, intense moods, impulsivity, self criticism, trauma and more. Our practice is holistic, honoring the mind-body connection and the ability for you to heal & take control over your life. We are deeply passionate about supporting people in finding healing and resilience through a compassionate, personalized approach. My specific journey to becoming a therapist was inspired by a desire to help others navigate emotional pain, trauma, and the complexities of life with kindness and empowerment. We specialize in modalities like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) because I've see seen how powerful these approaches can be in helping people build emotional regulation, develop self-compassion, and understand their internal experiences in a way that promotes true healing. IFS, in particular, offers a gentle framework for exploring the many “parts” of ourselves, fostering curiosity rather than judgment, and allowing transformation from within. In addition, we incorporate mindfulness and somatic practices because healing is not only mental but also physical and present-moment based. Mindfulness teaches us to slow down and connect to the here and now, reducing anxiety and increasing emotional balance. Somatic work helps reconnect with the body, where much of our emotional experience lives, creating a sense of safety and integration. Creative healing exercises, inspired by the work of Jen Mele and others bring an added layer of depth and flexibility to therapy. These expressive techniques — including painting collaging, writing, art, guided imagery, movement, music, poetry and more— provide alternative ways to access and process emotions, especially when words alone aren’t enough
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Starting therapy can feel intimidating, uncertain, or even overwhelming — and that’s completely understandable.** Taking the step to reach out for support is brave, and I want you to know that the first session is designed to meet you exactly where you are. There is no expectation or pressure to share more than you feel comfortable with. In fact, many clients feel nervous or unsure during their first appointment, and that’s perfectly normal. The intake session is your time to be heard and understood on your own terms. You can share about what’s on your mind, the challenges you’re facing, or simply talk about your hopes and goals for therapy. You also have the chance to ask any questions about the therapy process, what to expect moving forward, and the specific approaches I use. This session is about building a foundation of trust and safety, and helping you feel more grounded and informed about your journey ahead. At Creative Healing we use a combination of evidence-based and integrative approaches to tailor therapy to your unique needs. These include: * **Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):** DBT is a powerful skills-based therapy designed to help people regulate intense emotions, manage stress, improve relationships, and increase mindfulness in everyday life. We work together to develop practical tools you can use both inside and outside of sessions to create meaningful change and resilience. * **Internal Family Systems (IFS):** IFS is a compassionate and gentle approach that views the mind as made up of different “parts,” each with its own feelings, thoughts, and roles. Some parts may hold pain, fear, or critical voices, while others protect you or carry your strengths. IFS helps you develop a loving relationship with these parts, fostering internal harmony and healing by understanding and integrating them rather than pushing them away. * **Mindfulness Practices:** Mindfulness is about cultivating present-moment awareness with kindness and curiosity. Learning mindfulness helps you slow down, observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, and connect to the here-and-now. This can reduce anxiety, overwhelm, and increase your overall sense of calm and clarity. * **Somatic Therapy:** Our bodies hold onto stress and emotional experiences, sometimes outside of our conscious awareness. Somatic therapy gently guides you to notice bodily sensations, tension, or areas of numbness, helping you reconnect with your physical self. This can be deeply heali
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I was that person chosen for peer counseling at school and the friend people went to when they needed an ear. My own life experiences were challenging from the start and I felt an uncanny ability to empathize with different people. Over the years, a search for answers to my own suffering led me from science to mindfulness to psychology to working as a therapist. All while healing old and newfound chronic pains and illnesses. My experiences as a yoga practitioner & teacher, artist, painter, group leader and continuing educator have influenced my practice. I started Creative Healing 13 years ago and value providing a high level of client care. This is a safe, inclusive space for you to come and feel seen and heard. I’m warm, approachable, and genuinely curious about people’s stories. I believe healing happens best in a space where you feel safe, heard, and free to be exactly who you are—no filters, no judgment. I’m someone who values kindness, creativity, and a good sense of humor (because sometimes we all need to laugh, even in tough moments). Outside of therapy, I’m passionate about creating art and self-expression, music, the beach, nature, dogs and connecting with family in friends. If you want to see a bit of my world and creative journey, feel free to check out my Instagram @jenmeleart — it’s where I share my art and the pieces of life that inspire me.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
Many of my clients come feeling anxious, depressed, burned out, or stuck in cycles of self-doubt. Clients might have survival traits of excessive people pleasing, rumination and self shaming, resentment, confusion and/or avoidance with emotions, difficult unblending from intense of emotions, loss of self, childhood trauma, ptsd and more. You may often hold space for others and have trouble putting themselves first (as parents, friends, family members, therapists, teachers, creatives, parents, or caretakers). You may also struggle with motivation, attention, boredom, distraction, dissociation, automatic thoughts and behaviors. All of these are parts of the survival system and the treatments we use directly address how to overcome them in achievable, small steps. Together, we will explore what it means to be human, sensitive, and whole in a world that often demands constant doing and a need to go within to find answers. Approaches are integrative and compassionate with a blend of talk therapy with somatic work, DBT skills, creative expression, IFS (parts work), and mindfulness-based tools. I believe the body holds wisdom, and that real healing happens when we learn to listen—gently, honestly, and without judgment. My approach is trauma-informed, client-centered, and collaborative. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel safe to explore your story at your own pace, without pressure or judgment. Whether you’re looking for practical skills, deeper internal understanding, or creative expression, we work together to tailor therapy to your unique needs and goals.
About Creative Healing with Jen Mele
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have 17 years of experience practicing and teaching Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)**, and I truly believe these skills can be life-changing. Over nearly two decades, I’ve witnessed firsthand how DBT’s practical tools empower people to manage overwhelming emotions, improve relationships, and build resilience in the face of life’s challenges. DBT is more than just therapy—it’s a skillset that helps you navigate intense feelings and stressful situations with greater ease and confidence. The beauty of DBT is that it combines acceptance and change, teaching you how to accept yourself as you are while developing new ways to cope and grow. Throughout my years of work with DBT, I’ve taught these skills in individual therapy, group settings, and workshops, supporting clients in applying them to their daily lives. Whether it’s learning mindfulness to stay grounded, distress tolerance to get through tough moments, or interpersonal effectiveness to communicate needs clearly, these tools can open the door to meaningful transformation. What makes DBT so powerful is its balance of compassion and structure — it meets people where they are, acknowledges the difficulty of their experience, and offers clear, actionable strategies for change. My goal is to help you integrate these skills in a way that feels relevant and accessible, so you can move toward the life you want with greater stability and self-compassion.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I have been practicing Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for **13 years**, and my journey with IFS actually began as a client. It was the **first treatment that truly helped me**, giving me a deep understanding and appreciation for its gentle, compassionate approach to healing — an approach I bring to every session. IFS is a unique and powerful model that recognizes our minds are made up of multiple “parts” — different aspects of ourselves that carry distinct feelings, beliefs, and roles. In IFS, these parts typically fall into three categories: * **Managers**: These are the protective parts that try to keep us safe by controlling situations and avoiding pain. They work hard to maintain order and prevent vulnerable parts from surfacing. * **Firefighters**: These parts also protect us, but in more reactive ways, often stepping in when distress is overwhelming. They may use distraction, impulsive behaviors, or emotional outbursts to soothe or numb pain. * **Exiles**: These are the parts that hold our deepest wounds, fears, and traumas. Because their pain is so intense, the Managers and Firefighters work to keep them hidden and suppressed. At the core of this system is the **Self** — a calm, compassionate, curious, and grounded energy that we all have. When we connect with the Self, it becomes possible to approach our parts with kindness and understanding rather than fear or judgment, helping to heal wounds and bring internal harmony. Having experienced the healing power of connecting with my own Self and parts as a client, I bring empathy and insight to my work. I help clients identify their protectors and exiles, develop a trusting relationship with their Self, and navigate internal conflicts. This process allows for deep healing and lasting change, empowering you to become your own best ally.
Group Therapy
Paint and Mixed Media Group Our Paint and Mixed Media Group is a welcoming, nurturing space designed to help you reconnect with your creative self and access healing through art. Led by Jen Mele, LCSW, EYT-200, artist and therapist, this group blends art-making with mindfulness and somatic awareness to support emotional exploration and self-expression. The painting process is about allowing the Self to express itself beyond words—honoring your authentic rhythm and flow. This group encourages you to take gentle steps into uncertainty, managing mistakes and happy accidents as part of the creative journey. We also work with the critical inner voice, transforming self-judgment into curiosity and compassion. Whether you’re new to art or experienced, you’ll explore paint, collage, and mixed media in a supportive environment where the process matters more than the product. This group invites curiosity, self-compassion, and creative play as pathways to deeper self-understanding and healing. We accept most insurances.
Mind-body approach
What Is a Mind-Body Approach? A mind-body approach recognizes that mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being are deeply interconnected. This isn’t just a philosophical view — it’s backed by growing scientific evidence in fields like neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, and pain research. In therapy, a mind-body approach invites us to explore not only what we *think* and *feel*, but also what we *sense*. Our bodies store emotions, trauma, and stress responses. Physical symptoms can carry emotional weight, and emotional challenges can manifest physically. That’s why healing often requires more than talk therapy alone. This approach also helps you learn to distinguish between physical and emotional sensations and to understand how they often layer together. For example, chronic muscle tension may come from structural strain and unresolved emotional stress. We explore how the nervous system, posture, breathing, movement, and touch are all connected to your emotional landscape. We also address something that’s commonly overlooked in both traditional and holistic spaces: medical bypass — when emotional issues are dismissed as “just physical” — and **spiritual bypass**, when physical issues are ignored in favor of mindset or energy alone. A mind-body approach emphasizes bothhemotional exploration and appropriate **medical attention**, supporting you in taking your body seriously while exploring its deeper messages. In this work, I often refer clients to or collaborate with a range of other providers including **medical doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, Reiki practitioners, massage therapists, and other skilled bodyworkers**. Approaches from both **Eastern and Western traditions** are welcomed, and we explore what feels right for you. A special focus is placed on the **fascia and connective tissue system** — the body’s internal web that supports, connects, and communicates between all systems. Fascia is still largely under-recognized in mainstream care, even though research and experience show that **70–80% of physical pain can be resolved through fascial release and integration**. Techniques like gentle movement, somatic awareness, breathwork, and hands-on bodywork can be powerful tools for reconnecting with this system and relieving long-held tension. Ultimately, a mind-body approach is about **coming back home to yourself** — learning to listen to the wisdom of your body, understand the patterns of your nervous system, and build emotional and physical resilience from the inside out. It’s holistic, collaborative, and rooted in deep respect for your whole being.
Somatic
Somatic therapy is a body-based approach that helps you tune into physical sensations as a way to process emotions, release stress, and heal from trauma. It’s based on the understanding that the body and mind are deeply connected — emotions often show up physically, and healing can happen through both awareness and movement. This approach helps you notice how emotions live in your body and offers tools like grounding, breathwork, and gentle movement to support nervous system regulation. It works especially well alongside DBT and IFS by making emotional experiences more tangible and helping you connect more deeply with yourself and your parts. Somatic therapy is about slowing down, listening to your body, and creating space for healing that goes beyond words.