Melanie has earned a MSW (Masters of Social Work) from North Carolina State University and a BFA (Bachelors of Fine Arts) from the University of North Texas. She is a Registered Social Worker with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and is also licensed in the US. 

 

​Melanie has always had a passion for helping and supporting children, youth, and parents. Her experience as a co-founder and leader of an adoptive family organization, a volunteer in a parent group for families for highly gifted children, an expat in China, and an international school counselor for children and teens struggling with emotional and learning difficulties has led her to be the therapist she is today. From these roles, she has come to understand the uniqueness of each family and individual situation and approaches therapy from a culturally considerate and strength-based perspective. 

 

Her training has included many CBT courses, and workshops such as Smart but Scattered: Enhancing Executive Skills, Adoption Competency Mental Health, and Understanding the Profoundly Gifted Path.

 

Melanie’s areas of focus include anxiety, depression, ADHD, adoption, and the needs of gifted/2e children.  She provides support and education to parents whose children struggle with learning differences and/or mental health diagnosis. She uses a variety of therapy approaches to fit the needs of the client. 

 

Melanie grew up in a transracial adoptive family, and she is married to a registered psychotherapist. She and her husband have two college-aged daughters, one fat gray cat, a very loud black kitty, and an Aussie Labradoodle named Flurry who happily works for Sunshine Dogs, a therapy dog organization.

 

Melanie looks forward to working with children, teens and parents.