Sometimes you find yourself
in the middle of chaos,
and sometimes in the middle of chaos,
you find yourself.
Welcome. Thank you for being here.
If you are here because you are seeking relief from emotional pain and trauma responses that prevent you from living life to the fullest, you’re in the right place..
I specialize in helping people break free from the impacts of trauma., which manifest as:
Fear and anxiety
Depression
Dissociation / Numbing
Isolation / Loneliness
Difficulty with intimacy
Shame and unworthiness
Aggression (active or passive)
Emotional pain
Feeling stuck in old patterns
Feeling constantly overwhelmed
These patterns can feel deeply ingrained and difficult to change. That's natural—they're coping mechanisms, rooted in survival strategies you developed to navigate life. While they may have served a purpose in the past, they are likely holding you back now.
The good news? The human body and brain are changeable. You can acquire new ways of being, feeling, thinking and behaving. Together, we can work on transforming your survival strategies into tools for thriving. Whether the cause is due to traumatic experiences, or to other sorts of life conditioning, I can help.
Ready to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life? Let's explore how I can support your journey to emotional well-being and personal growth.
There is hope. I can help.
About me …
I am a highly trained and experienced clinician, but what my clients like about me is that I care deeply, I’m kind and I push them to find themselves and be the best version of themselves that they can be. AND THEY GET BETTER!!!
On a personal level, I love art and dancing and bike riding and meditating and reading about nerdy neuroscience stuff. And despite how effed up our world can seem, I believe in the goodness of the human heart.
If an organism is stuck in survival mode, its energies are focused on fighting off unseen enemies, which leaves no room for nurture, care, and love.
For us humans, it means that as long as the mind is defending itself against invisible assaults, our closest bonds are threatened, along with our ability to imagine, plan, play, learn, and pay attention to other people’s needs.
~Bessel van der Kolk
Recover your innate capacity to thrive
Trauma healing involves replacing learned patterns you once relied on to survive, with new patterns reflective of capacities you were born with—to experience joy, love, connection, power and purpose. Recover your innate capacities for thriving by harmonizing your mind and body.
Do this for yourself now.
It's hard to imagine that healing trauma could be like walking through a hidden doorway to your true self, but this is exactly what my clients describe. Here are a few comments made during sessions:
"I never knew it could be okay to just be me."
“I feel like a new version of myself. I mean in my body, I feel powerful and open, like I could do anything!”
“I am strong now like an ancient tree that is powerful, flexible and free.”
Reclaim Your True Self
Take the journey of self-transformation.
Step out of the shadows of past experiences and into a life of:
Joy and contentment
Deep, meaningful connections
A strong sense of personal power
Clear purpose and direction
These aren't just dreams – they're your birthright. You were born with the ability to experience goodness in your self.. Life conditions and experiences may have limited these capacities, but they're still there, waiting to be reawakened.
By choosing to heal, you're not just moving away from pain; you're finally choosing to live.
Let's take this journey together, unlocking your potential for a richer, more joyful life.
Read more, or contact me to schedule a free, 15 minute consultation.
James, a client
“Melissa saved my life…literally.
I came to her at my very lowest point having “been hit by a speeding train” (emotionally) in multiple areas (simultaneously), landing smack dab in the middle of a full blown PTSD crisis and barely able to get out of bed each day. She was one of eight therapists that I reached out to for help at that lowest point and was the only one that was able to actually “move the needle” successfully, doing what the other seven could not…show me the path back into a meaningful life. It was incredibly hard work (including EMDR sessions), and throughout each step she was kind, caring and skilled at a level that I (still) cannot fully fathom, working with me, believing in me (when I could not) and supporting me at every turn (yes, I took some wrong ones), continually guiding me while illuminating a path in “the darkness” for me to move forward. I will be forever be grateful to her and truly cannot ever say “thank you” enough.
