Mel Rivkin

I have 7 years of social work experience as a School Social Worker prior to beginning private practice. I work with clients in accessing their goals through various therapy modalities including but not limited to mindfulness based therapy, play therapy, trauma focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. My clients come in with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and PTSD, anger that arrives faster than they want it to, family conflict, and the aftermath of domestic violence. A lot of my work is with LGBTQIA+ and transgender clients, including people working through gender dysphoria and broader questions of identity, and with neurodivergent clients and clients navigating a learning disability, another disability, or physical health considerations. I am a neurodivergent adult myself, and I bring cultural humility to the many different ways people experience the world. I am passionate about being part of a client's support network and take great joy in connecting with clients over time. Outside of work, I enjoy walking my dog, Magoo.

Outside of work, I enjoys walking my dog, Magoo.

I believe that I am a student to my clients. It's important for me to learn what works best for you and what your interests are to best cater our work to what works for your own needs. That shows up practically. With younger clients it often means play therapy, because a lot of what needs saying does not come out in a straight conversation. With adults it might be mindfulness work, or cognitive behavioral therapy when a thought pattern has gotten loud enough to run the show. Because I am neurodivergent myself, I try to build sessions that fit how your brain actually works rather than how a session is supposed to look. You will not be asked to mask here.

We will complete intake information to best get to know you and what you are looking for in our sessions. I am a neurodivergent adult and may not always match my facial expressions to what it is I'm expressing. I also have a laughing tick. We will discuss accommodations needed in sessions in our first session together.