Melissa has been working as a mental health professional since the early 2000’s. Along the way, she’s learned the importance of making people feel safe, heard, and understood. With Melissa, you can expect to feel at ease with her approachable, relatable, and down-to-earth attitude. She has an innate understanding of the pain life can cause and how chronic pain can sometimes cause you to suffer enough to struggle to function. There is no judgment when you walk through her door. Nonetheless, Melissa is honest and direct, and you can expect to receive authentic feedback. Her goal is always to help you uncover truths about yourself so that you can be the realest version of who you are. You can expect to learn new ideas and methods of coping that can help you better navigate your stressors in life. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and issues related to childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on how we think and deal with stress and Melissa’s goal is to better help you understand the limitations you may be placing on yourself – allowing you to become a healthier and more functional individual. And don’t be surprised if she cracks a joke too – she often uses humor to make her clients feel more relaxed and at ease – especially since therapy can often be focused on heavy stuff! Melissa says, “there is nothing more beautiful or empowering than to see an individual open their mind to fully loving themselves with compassion and eyes wide open to all of their strengths AND weaknesses.” She looks forward to you reaching out to schedule a session and begin your journey with her as your biggest cheerleader.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first session, I will work hard to understand your current life and experiences and identify what your goals will be for treatment. You will get to know me and learn that my top priority is your well-being and greater insight into yourself.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Couples Techniques, and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
One of my biggest strengths is that I am real, approachable, and client's often feel understood and heard. I will empathize with you, but also challenge you to take accountability so that you actually improve and change. When you're with me, I work hard so that you don't feel judged and feel safe to say whatever comes to mind, disagree with me, and be the most authentic version of you. I have a very in depth understanding of how trauma affects not only the mind, but the body and the nervous system and how to help regulate a dysregulated nervous system. With me, you will learn to reconnect to yourself and find your inner peace and inner voice, love yourself, and learn to trust yourself.