Melody McAlister
Melody McAlister
(she/her)
I am a Licensed Marriage (Couples) & Family Therapist practicing in the state of Pennsylvania. My current practice is focused on supporting couples and families navigate the challenging realities of addiction and substance use, developmental changes or transitions, and family conflict and challenges related to parenting. I have extensive experience in the field of addiction as well as experience working with blended families with adolescent children. I am trained in EMDR and am also a certified grief-informed practitioner. I am also licensed to practice as an out-of-state telehealth provider in the state of Florida; more information about these credentials can be found here: https://flhealthsource.gov/telehealth/ PLEASE NOTE- I do not accept insurance for couple/family work.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session together we will discuss hopes for what the therapeutic work will bring as well as any previous experience in therapy. I will allow plenty of room for curiosity about me, my experience, and my process. Depending on time and comfort, we may also begin collecting family history and learning more about what life looks like for you right now.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
As a friend, a daughter, a sister, a partner, an employee...I get it. Relationships are complicated and the relationship we have with ourselves is even more so. I have an eye for the little wins, and the small ways in which we work toward building a life full of love, comfort, and boundaries. As a person in recovery, I also understand what it feels like to reach for the coping mechanisms that interrupt our ability to truly heal. I too, have been doing the work necessary to build a life of serenity. While I can't relate to everyone’s specific experiences, I can relate to the grief, confusion, and overwhelm that life sometimes hands us.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
The clients I work with have a strong desire to understand themselves in the context of their families of origin and the environments they are a part of. These are individuals, couples, and families that are working toward mutual healing, and come to therapy with a desire to learn more about themselves and each other. I am here to challenge you and promote a sense of curiosity within yourself and your relationships and ask that you come to therapy with a willingness to abandon the narratives that are no longer serving you.
About Melody McAlister
I identify as
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
As a relationally trained practitioner, I have learned that most of our emotional regulation skills and deficits are a result of our attachment style which is related to how much safety and stability was available to us as children. I utilize this knowledge to conceptualize presenting challenges through an attachment-based lens.
Couples Counseling
With a degree in Marriage & Family Therapy and experience teaching Couple Therapy to graduate students, I am uniquely qualified to assess and treat presenting challenges between couples.
EMDR
I am an EMDR Clinician. EMDR is an evidence based practice that has been proven to support folks in recovering from acute and chronic experiences of trauma. EMDR aims to reprocess distressing memories from a place of strength in order to weaken the narratives that have kept us from moving toward healing.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
I utilize the tenants of EFT to conceptualize challenges between couples and families, as well as help individuals learn their triggers so they can learn how to best advocate for their own emotional needs