Hi, I’m Melanie
Thirteen years ago, I began my journey as a psychotherapist thinking I knew exactly where I was going. I had it all planned out. I would work with military members and veterans, build a career with the federal government, and follow in the footsteps of my father, who spent 35 years as a civil servant.
It was safe. It was stable. And it was wrong.
As it turns out, that wasn't where I was meant to be.
My career began much like that of many other therapists. I studied, trained, and developed the skills needed to help people navigate some of life's most difficult experiences. But as I continued my professional work, I was also walking my own path of healing and self-discovery.
Along that path, I found refuge, meaning, and a deeper understanding of myself in spiritual traditions that existed outside the mainstream. I began exploring practices that have been part of the human experience for centuries. I studied tarot, deepened my understanding of spiritual traditions, and eventually came to embrace something I had kept largely private for much of my life.
The Approach
I draw from ancient wisdom and contemporary spiritual practices.
And I am a psychotherapist.
Why Now
For a long time, I kept these parts of my life separate. I understood how easily spiritual beliefs outside the mainstream could be misunderstood or judged, particularly within the mental health profession.
But over time, I came to recognize that I didn't have to choose between these parts of myself. Both have shaped how I understand the human experience, and both have influenced the person and therapist I've become.
That realization also changed how I thought about the work I wanted to do.
I believe psychotherapy should make room for the whole person. Our thoughts, emotions, relationships, physical health, culture, environment, and spiritual beliefs all influence how we experience the world. When we leave important parts of ourselves outside the therapy room, we may also leave important parts of our story unexplored.
The Practice
Over the years, I've continued to deepen my clinical training while expanding my knowledge of other approaches to healing and personal growth. My work includes EMDR, Induced After-Death Communication (IADC), and an interest in transpersonal and depth psychology, alongside my study of tarot and spiritual traditions.
I bring these different perspectives to my work thoughtfully, with respect for each client's individual beliefs, experiences, and goals.
You do not have to be spiritual to work with me. You do not have to share my beliefs. And you certainly don't have to know anything about alchemy.
You only have to come as you are.
My Experience
My journey as a psychotherapist has been shaped by two paths of learning: one grounded in formal education, clinical experience, and professional leadership, and the other in spiritual exploration, ancient wisdom, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
While these paths may seem very different, both have shaped who I am and how I approach my work. Together, they reflect my belief that meaningful healing begins with understanding and honoring the whole person.
You do not have to know everything to come home to yourself.
Sometimes life takes us into unfamiliar places. We experience loss, question what we once believed, or find that the life we knew no longer fits who we are becoming.
I think of these moments as a kind of initiation. A time when life asks us to face uncertainty, explore what lies beneath the surface, and discover what may be possible on the other side.
As a psychotherapist, I have the privilege of walking alongside people through these experiences. I walk with them through suffering, help them explore their light, and support them as they develop a deeper understanding of themselves.
I don't believe my role is to tell you who you should become. My role is to help you explore who you are and what healing might look like for you.
Professional Psychotherapy. Spiritual Inclusivity. Authentic Transformation.
Leadership, Education & Service
My commitment to the counseling profession has always extended beyond the work I do with individual clients.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving the counseling community through leadership, education, clinical supervision, and professional advocacy. I have spent years in servant leadership at the university, local, state, and national levels, guided by a belief that strengthening our profession ultimately strengthens the care we provide to the people and communities we serve.
My professional experience includes approximately five years of university-level teaching, publication in professional counseling journals, and presentations at conferences both nationally and internationally. As a clinical supervisor, I also support the growth and development of other counselors as they build their skills and professional identities.
My servant leadership journey began with my election as President of the Theta Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an international counseling academic and professional honor society at Oakland University. I continued serving the professional counseling community throughout Michigan and beyond, eventually having the honor of serving as President of the Michigan Counseling Association and as Midwest Region Chair of the American Counseling Association.
My advocacy has also taken me beyond the counseling community and into the halls of government. On several occasions, I traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the counseling profession and the people we serve. I also participated in advocacy efforts at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing during an important period for protecting professional counselor licensure in our state.
These experiences have given me opportunities not only to share what I have learned, but also to continue learning from colleagues, students, and the wider counseling community.
I believe that being a good psychotherapist means remaining a lifelong student of both the profession and the human experience, while also giving back to the communities that have contributed to our growth and knowledge.
Beyond the Therapy Room
Your Journey Matters, Too.
My path has shaped the therapist I am today, but our work together is about yours.
Whatever experiences, questions, or challenges have brought you here, I would welcome the opportunity to learn about your story and explore what healing might look like for you.
You don't have to have it all figured out to begin