"I believe my role, as your therapist, is to help you identify and remove the barriers that are preventing you from having the healthy and full life that you seek. Sometimes other people cause hurt or harm, and sometimes we do it to ourselves. There is a path to healing, and it would be my honor to walk by your side on that journey."
Melissa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience in the field of social work. She has worked in a number of specialty areas, including addiction recovery, child and family welfare, community mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, medical/inpatient, law enforcement, military, and Veterans.
Melissa has extensive experience in working with PTSD and complex trauma. She is trained in Biofeedback, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), CPT (cognitive processing therapy), PE (prolonged exposure), and EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing). Additionally, Melissa utilizes a variety of cognitive and somatic interventions in a holistic approach to assist you in reaching your goals.
Melissa believes that if something is worth doing, then it is worth doing well. For that reason, she engages in ongoing training to increase what she has to offer clients. Her current favorite books are "The Body Keeps the Score" (van der Kolk), "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts" (Mate), "Anchored" (Dana), and the Bible. Melissa is a child of God, saved by grace through faith, and walks confidently in the knowledge that He fulfills His promises to us.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jer 29:11