Hi, my name is Melissa and I am excited to be part of your journey! My goal is to help clients identify the desires they have for their lives and the areas they wish to improve. In order to achieve this, we will work together to resolve obstacles and build the skills necessary to achieve your goals. Our time together will allow for open exploration and tailored objectives. Thereby allowing us to find your way to growth and healing. Taking a trauma focused care approach allows us to process past pain without becoming overwhelmed in the moment. My work focuses on healing; for our adult-self and our inner-child. Thereby allowing you to build emotional resilience and create the life you desire. I look forward to getting to know you and learning how I can be of help.
Our first session will include a review of policies, procedures, limits to confidentiality, and guidelines for our therapeutic relationship. We will discuss your expectations for our time together in therapy. We will then focus on gathering your history, appropriate background, your personal goals for therapy, and begin creating our therapeutic goals for therapy. Most importantly, we will begin by establishing an alliance and working together to create the foundation for our time together in therapy.
My strengths lie in my communication skills, rapport and EMDR. My communication style is gentle, while allowing for clear, direct, and open conversation. With an emphasis on understanding, care and clarification when needed. I wholeheartedly believe that for therapy to be effective, the client – therapist relationship must be built on trust and understanding. In order to achieve this, I provide a warm and nurturing environment allowing the client to feel safe in the therapy room. Lastly, the high rates of effectiveness when utilizing EMDR allow clients to see great improvements in their mental health.
I have always enjoyed working with a wide range of clients, from all walks of life. My ideal clients are those who are open to therapy and exploring what therapy can do for them.
EMDR
I am a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, with 6 years experience utilizing EMDR. EMDR is a specialized form of treatment used to treat individuals who have experienced trauma and are now experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental health concerns. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation through eye movements. The eye movements allow clients to process difficult and traumatic experiences without becoming overwhelmed. Additionally, EMDR significantly reduces the level of distress caused when recalling trauma or one feels triggered. With therapist guidance EMDR allows clients to be free from the daily pain trauma has inflicted. When you are ready, we will review the steps for EMDR, discuss and create a plan, then slowly begin the process. Together we will walk through the past to heal your now.
Attachment-based
In addition to trauma, my work with clients focuses on the inner child and the early attachments that served as the foundation for our development. Exploring your inner child, allows the adult self to identify the unmet needs from one’s childhood. Together, we will work to fulfill those needs by learning to re-parent the inner child and understanding how our attachment style affects our adult self. This is done through learning the skills and resources needed to develop autonomy, stop unhealthy cycles that no longer serve a purpose, and create a healthy corrective experience in therapy.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Taking a Person-Centered approach to therapy allows the client to tap into their own inherent abilities, capacity for change, and desire for growth. My role in therapy becomes one of facilitator. I focus on providing support, empathy and allowing space for open exploration. My objective is to create a foundation of trust and safety, thereby allowing for you to create your own now. I walk along side you, as you find your way to peace.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
My objective with Solution focused therapy is to identify and develop a client's strengths and resources to attain their goals. The focus is to help clients create their own solutions, which in turn creates positive change in their lives. I work to help the client focus on the positive, develop their own personal goals, and work to achieve the life they envision for themselves.
Christian Counseling
When utilizing faith in therapy, I aim to use our faith as resource in the plan for healing. We will discuss your personal preferences and utilize your faith as a source of strength and resiliency. This is a very personal choice and will only be utilized if requested by the client.