Meet Melissa
I’m Melissa, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in EMDR therapy for adults who have experienced trauma that has disrupted their sense of safety, identity, or forward momentum. Many of the people I work with appear “high functioning” on the outside, yet feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected on the inside—often after experiences that were unexpected, painful, or deeply destabilizing.
I believe healing happens best in a space that feels safe, collaborative, and respectful of your lived experience. Therapy is not about fixing what’s broken—it’s about helping your nervous system and mind do what they are already designed to do: process, integrate, and move forward.
Who I Work With
I provide EMDR therapy for adults who have experienced:
Career setbacks or professional disruption
Workplace trauma (vicarious or direct)
Betrayal
Medical or shock trauma
Grief related to suicide loss
Ongoing shame, guilt, or the feeling of being “stuck”
My work is rooted in the understanding that unresolved experiences don’t just live in our memories—they live in our bodies, our beliefs, and our nervous systems. EMDR allows us to gently and effectively address trauma at its source.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Therapy with me is a collaborative process. I see us as partners—both observing the problem together and working toward meaningful resolution. EMDR provides the framework for our work, and safety is always our guide.
I offer 90-minute sessions to allow for deeper processing and lasting change. I actively invest in continuing education, consultation, and advanced training so that my clients benefit from both experience and evolving clinical insight. I’m also deeply interested in neurobiology and nervous system regulation, and I help clients understand why their reactions make sense—not just how to manage them.
EMDR therapy doesn’t simply add coping skills to your toolbox. It builds your capacity to handle life’s stressors—past and present—more proactively and strategically. My goal is to help you develop a nervous system that feels more resilient, regulated, and capable of meeting life as it unfolds.
My Values
My practice is built on the commitment to provide the kind of psychotherapy I would want for my own family—especially my mother. I work with integrity, professionalism, and a dedication to continuous growth. I am deeply passionate about the effectiveness of EMDR therapy and strive to offer thoughtful, high-quality care to every client I work with.
“In the time I have known her, she has practiced with integrity and has excellent clinical insight and judgment.”
where it all started
The seeds of my trauma-focused private practice were planted early. As an undergraduate student, I worked as an office intern in my grandfather’s internal medicine clinic. Patients often shared struggles with chronic anxiety that didn’t have a clear medical explanation. My grandfather, who openly admitted he knew little about psychology, would ask me what I thought might be behind it. At the time, I didn’t have many answers—but the questions stayed with me.
Later, in my Theories of Personality class, a professor spoke about clients with chemical sensitivities and thoughtfully observed a connection to adverse childhood experiences. Those conversations deeply influenced me. By the time I entered graduate school, I knew I wanted to understand how our experiences shape the quality of our lives, influence personality, and impact neurobiology.
During my practicum, my supervisor encouraged me to study EMDR therapy after seeing powerful results treating both adults and children with trauma and PTSD. I began EMDR training in 2008 and haven’t looked back. The principles of EMDR guided my work in community mental health, correctional mental health, and a substance use treatment center before I opened my own private practice—a dream I hold with humility and deep respect for the trust my clients place in me.
“Melissa is one of the most talented therapists I have the pleasure of collaborating with and is the first person I recommend friends and family to.”
Education, Licensure & Training
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina and South Carolina
EMDR Certified Therapist through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
Currently pursuing certification in the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model, a somatic approach to nervous system resilience
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts in Counseling, Northern Arizona University