Hi, I'm Melinda. I'm glad you're here.
Hi, I'm Melinda. I'm glad you're here.
Embedded Files
My experience as a social worker and therapist has allowed me to support individuals and families across a variety of settings and levels of care. Throughout my career, I have worked in child and family services, medical social work, hospice care, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), crisis intervention, and school-based mental health services.
I have also served in leadership roles within behavioral health settings, providing me with a broader understanding of mental health treatment, collaboration, advocacy, and the different systems individuals and families may encounter while seeking support.
Working across these settings has given me experience supporting individuals experiencing everything from everyday stress and life transitions to trauma, family challenges, emotional and behavioral concerns, and more complex mental health needs.
Today, I bring these experiences together in my work at Hope & Healing Counseling, providing a warm, individualized, and collaborative approach to therapy that recognizes there is no one-size-fits-all path to healing.
Education
Education
Master of Social Work
Fordham University
Bachelor of Social Work
Eastern Connecticut State University
EMDR Trained Therapist
Why I Became a Therapist
Why I Became a Therapist
Helping people has always felt like the right path for me.
I always knew I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Initially, I thought that path would be nursing, but after being introduced to the field of social work by my sister-in-law, I realized I had found something that truly aligned with who I was and the kind of work I wanted to do.
Over time, that passion grew into helping individuals navigate some of life's most difficult and vulnerable moments. Becoming a therapist has allowed me to create the kind of space I believe people deserve—a place where they can feel heard, understood, challenged when needed, and supported as they grow.
What It's Like to Work With Me
What It's Like to Work With Me
Therapy with me is collaborative, genuine, and personalized.
I’m not here to simply sit back and ask, “How does that make you feel?” for an hour.
We'll talk about what's happening in your life, identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck, explore where those patterns came from, and develop practical strategies you can use outside of therapy.
There will be space for difficult conversations, reflection, learning, growth—and sometimes even laughter.
I believe you are the expert on your own experiences. My role is to walk alongside you, provide a different perspective, teach you tools, and help you recognize strengths you may have difficulty seeing in yourself.
My Approach to Therapy
My Approach to Therapy
There isn't one approach that works for everyone.
Your experiences, personality, relationships, culture, strengths, and goals all influence what you need from therapy. That's why I believe treatment should be individualized rather than trying to fit every client into the same approach.
Depending on your needs, I may incorporate approaches such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, mindfulness-based interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, attachment-based approaches, and strengths-based interventions.
But you don't need to know which type of therapy you need before reaching out. That's something we can determine together.
Who I Work With
Who I Work With
I provide virtual therapy to teens and adults throughout Texas, with particular experience supporting individuals navigating:
Anxiety & Overthinking • Trauma & PTSD • Depression • Self-Esteem • Stress & Burnout • Relationships • Grief • Life Transitions
A Little About Me Outside the Therapy Room
A Little About Me Outside the Therapy Room
When I’m not in therapist mode, you’ll probably find me cheering on my son at the baseball field, watching my daughter at gymnastics, getting hooked on a good true-crime documentary, relaxing by the pool, or convincing myself that I can tackle just one more house project.
I value spending time with my family, slowing down when I can, and finding joy in the everyday moments. I believe making space for the things that help us recharge is important—and I try to practice that in my own life, too.
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