Melanie is an Associate Professional Counselor. She completed her Bachelors in Photojournalism through the University of Georgia. While completing her BA she discovered that what she most enjoyed about Photojournalism was getting to know people, and to help them tell their stories. Realizing her passion to help people to experience and tell their story well, led her to complete her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Denver Seminary.

While completing her master’s she worked in a college setting counseling young adults dealing with anxiety, depression, and relational issues. After moving back to Georgia, she worked extensively with adults managing a range of mental health problems. She is passionate about working with teens, young adults, and individuals on issues of grief and loss, life transitions, career concerns, and relationship issues. Additionally, she enjoys helping couples rediscover joy in their marriage.

She seeks to create a warm and supportive environment where her clients feel heard and valued as they develop skills and process emotions to face life’s challenges. Melanie helps her clients pursue their goals through a holistic approach, using a variety of treatment methods that take into consideration a client’s physical, relational, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

In her spare time, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, reading, and baking. She is a member of the LPCA of Georgia.

I consider it a gift to help individuals and couples meet their goals and work towards becoming their most authentic selves. I have expertise and experience treating depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, trauma, family and relational issues, marital concerns including infidelity, and more. My therapeutic approach is fairly simple: I believe you are the expert in your life and I am here as a partner and sounding board to help you make real positive changes. My therapeutic style takes into account my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Gottman therapy for couples, in conjunction with my belief in the resilience of the human spirit. I tailor my methods to suit the unique needs of the couples and individuals I serve. I understand how daunting it can feel to reach out for help, but you don't have to face this alone. Together, we can embark on a journey toward a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I am a sport psychology fellow specializing in mental health concerns and performance optimization for athletes and individuals in high-stress occupations. I see children, teens, adults, individuals, couples, and run a therapy group. Although I specialize in sports/performance with athletes, I see all individuals who are struggling with depression, anxiety, panic, sexual health concerns, faith & life transitions, co-occurring medical concerns, ADHD, OCD, perfectionism, and other mental health concerns!

I'm a Brazilian-Korean-American Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. My academic background includes a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Georgia State University. Fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a therapist, I have a profound belief in the transformative power of psychotherapy. Despite the effort it demands, the path is unquestionably rewarding. I place my confidence in the inherent strength within every client, fostering transformation from the inside out. I value honesty, compassion, authenticity, inclusivity, growth, and I approach my work with professionalism and care.

My goal is not to 'fix' your problems or talk you out of your emotions; instead, I'll guide you in understanding them, helping uncover their root causes for a deeper insight into yourself, your relationships, and behavior patterns. As your therapist, I prioritize creating a warm, non-judgmental space for you to process your experiences, and recognize the intricate layers that contribute to your overall well-being.

I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Psychodynamic, Person-Centered, Somatic, Narrative, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Mindfulness practices. I am also EMDR trained and fluent in Portuguese. During our sessions, I'll invite you to explore how early experiences may influence your current behavior, consider the body-mind connection, and embrace the possibility of developing new thought patterns and practices for a more balanced life.

I have helped clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and post traumatic stress, racial trauma, grief, perfectionism, self-esteem, relationship/communication issues, and identity exploration. I offer in-person and virtual sessions.

When not counseling, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing music, and cooking pasta.