Melanie Chitwood
Psychotherapist - MA, LPCC, MBPsS -
Being Seen, to me, is the essence of what humans crave – to be seen, gotten, understood by others. Often times when is struggling with life’s challenges – it is harder to let oneself be seen by others or to find others who can truly see what you are experiencing. I have been connected to and passionate about the fields of psychology, counseling, mental health throughout my life – and – across three different countries. I am invested in providing people the experience to have another see them, accept them as they are, and to work alongside them to get to where they’d like to be.
It’s common to feel out of sorts, isolated, or misunderstood when experiencing relationship, family, peer, or workplace conflicts/stress, during a life transition, or when recovering from trauma. It may be due to a death, the end of a relationship, a relocation from another state or country, an adjustment to a health issue of yourself or a loved one, or being in an environment in which you feel you don’t fit. It can be painful to experience these feelings and to try to find a way forward. You don’t have to do this alone.
My speciality areas include: assisting individuals adjust to culture shock & reverse culture shock; bereavement counseling (homicide, suicide, other sudden/unexpected causes, as well as bereavement following prolonged terminal illness); unresolved grief, loss, anger, & trauma; relationship, family, & academic or workplace stressors; male & female victims of sexual abuse; discrimination; supporting partners of persons with ASD (also referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome or high functioning autism); supporting persons living and coping with other forms of neurodiversity such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia; a providing therapy to professionals experiencing vicarious trauma.
I have lived in the Far East, the Middle East, & the United Kingdom during my adult life and have provided counseling to clients from over 19 countries – from varying ethnic, religious, & socio-economic backgrounds. This provides me a unique world perspective in which I can better seek to understand individuals from their specific context.
Skills and Expertise
Adjusting to Change / Life Transitions
Abandonment
Anxiety
Breakups
Caregiver Issues or Stress
Divorce and Divorce Adjustment
Creative Blocks
expats
Family of Origin Issues
Family Conflict
Loss or Grief
Multicultural Concerns
Navigating Identity in Relationships
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Sexual Abuse
Stress
Trauma and PTSD
Treatment Orientation
Existential
Humanistic
Psychodynamic
Psychotherapy
Rogerian
Solution Focused Therapy
Modality