MELANIE HUNTER, LMFT

I love working with folks at critical life transitions - young adulthood, moves, new relationships or new parenthood, empty-nesting, grandparents unexpectedly raising grandkids. These times can be rich with possibilities (under a whole lot of stress). Transitions invite us to shrug off old ways and try new tools and roles on for size. I also have years of experience supporting clients through anxiety, using a set of tools that include CBT. I also have years of experience working with kids and families navigating the endless challenges of parenting and being parented. I love helping folks break out of long-standing patterns to better love and support each other. 

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For most of us, coming to therapy is a vulnerable act, an acknowledgement that the strategies we've been trying aren't working in this present moment (even if they used to work). I see my role as one of coming alongside you, helping you see your own situation or questions more clearly, and supporting you in developing (or remembering!) tools or practices that will move you forward. While I believe the past often informs the present, my style also focuses on your present and your future. Just as I believe you are the expert on what is and isn't working for you at this moment in time, I also believe that you have what you need to move forward into a more joyous, contented life, with a little support and guidance. 

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I draw on many models and approaches in my work with clients, since there is no "one-size-fits-all" standard, but some things you will see in your work with me include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, trauma-informed practices, and solution-focused approaches. I am also informed by my years of training in Early Childhood Mental Health. Work with clients might be brief, focused on addressing a very specific issue, or long-term, focused on enhancing one's overall life. I invite exploration of how race, culture, spirituality, and gender impact and inform wellness and mental health. Folks who have worked with me have described me as direct, warm, down-to-earth, and willing to go deep.