Melissa joins Kaiun Wellness as a licensed mental health counselor. She has been in practice sine 2018 and graduated from Antioch University Seattle in 2017.

In her own words:

Hi there, I’m Melissa — and I’m here to listen.

With me, you’ll find empathetic, compassionate care grounded in a holistic, whole-body approach. This includes learning to pay attention to how your body is breathing, where you notice or feel sensations/emotions, and what’s happening without your conscious thought. Sometimes, talk therapy alone just isn’t enough. Trauma, anxiety, and depression are also experienced and stored in the body. That low back pain, quick startle response, digestive issues, and/or trouble sleeping? No, it’s not “all in your head”. It might be your body’s way of telling its story.

Maybe you’re feeling big emotions — or an overwhelming numbness — and can’t quite make sense of why. Perhaps you find yourself reacting in ways that don’t feel like “you,” caught in a confusing emotional loop. Or maybe that internal shame spiral of, “I should be over this by now,” is leaving you feeling stuck and alone. You might even wonder if anyone truly knows the real you. If this sounds familiar, let’s talk about it together. In my own way, I’ve been there too.

It’s not about, “what’s wrong with you” but rather, “what happened to you”.
How we experience life becomes part of our body’s working memory through the nervous system. Creating automatic patterns — once essential for survival, but now perhaps keeping you from the life you want. Especially when experiences have been overwhelming or frightening, the body remembers. This is natural and protective, but it can also feel confusing or frustrating.

I believe feeling seen and heard are essential to wellbeing and connection. My approach is client-centered — you set the pace, direction, and focus of our work together. I also integrate elements of CBT, somatic therapy, narrative therapy, attachment theory, and yoga therapy. I worked individually with adolescents (13+) and adults since 2018. My areas of focus include sexual trauma and abuse, PTSD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

As an ADHD’er myself, I bring both personal understanding and clinical insight to my work. I listen closely not only to your words, but also to the subtle patterns and connections that shape your story. Together, we’ll explore how you came to be who you are and the many layers that inform your current experience.

When we observe our thoughts and sensations with awareness, we open the door to choice — and I believe that choice belongs to you.