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Melissa Blount

Melissa Blount

(she/her)

PhD
25 years of experience
Virtual

Melissa R. Blount, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who believes that through therapeutic interventions and community outreach she can make a true difference in building communities that are engaged and connected—one person at a time. By taking a holistic approach to treatment and working with the mind, body and spirit she makes a positive and lasting change in the lives of her clients. Dr. Blount earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Western Michigan University and has more than 20 years experience in individual therapy practice and as a lecturer and workshop facilitator in service of helping people better their lives and the world.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session we will begin the process of establishing trust and rapport. We'll do a brief review of why clients are coming to therapy and then do an extensive psychosocial interview.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Having practiced for over two decades, I've mastered the ability to create a nonjudgemental, compassionate, therapeutic environment for truth telling in which healing can occur. I'm able to help clients create attainable and measurable therapeutic goals to help them gauge the progress of their healing.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love working with adults 30s and over who are really motivated to do the hard work of healing. Many of my former clients are BIPOC and I enjoy working with this population. My ideal client is courageous enough to be vulnerable and seek the space and tools needed to help them create the life they deserve. I am also looking for clients who understand that I am not an authority on their life but I am a therapeutic partner on their healing journey and that much of the difficult work of healing happens outside of the therapy space.

About Melissa Blount

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Free consults, virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I was trained at Western Michigan University with some of the researchers who were at the forefront of behavioral and cognitive behavioral treatment. All of my early treatment training and therapeutic interventions were based in CBT. I often use schematics, journaling and thought sheets for clients to begin to bring to their conscious their thoughts, patterns regarding their thoughts and what may trigger their thoughts. It helps people to feel like they have a sense of control over their anxiety and depression.

Attachment-based

I've been a student of attachment theory for the last 20years. I've read Bowlby, taken trainings with Bessel van der Kolk. Understanding attachment theory and doing psycho-educational work with my clients to understand how trauma and attachment style are connected and in turn how that impacts one's behavior and relationships.

Psychoeducation

My therapeutic approach relies heavily on a psychoeducational component. It's important to me that people understand psychophysiology, the impact of trauma on the brain and the function of and overuse of psychological defenses.

Culturally Sensitive Therapy

As an African American cis gender heterosexual woman I am always conscious of how my life and the lives of my clients are intersectional when it comes to systems of oppression. This was the study of my dissertation and I continue to train and read many books regarding intersectionality and racial trauma.

Feminist

For several years I was in a feminist and trauma centered consultation group. This training and group had and still have an huge influence on the way I practice and create safe space in the therapeutic relationship.