Melinda Powers

I'm Melinda Powers, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) and owner of Parlami LLC, a private psychotherapy practice in Lawrence, Kansas. I hold an MSW from Arizona State University and am licensed in Kansas, Missouri, and Nevada.

My clinical approach is trauma-informed and integrative. I'm trained in EMDR and clinical hypnotherapy and I hold ADHD Clinical Services Provider credentials. I work with individuals, couples, and families ages 15 and up, with particular specialties in trauma recovery, ADHD, and conscious uncoupling for couples navigating separation or divorce.

I believe healing happens through genuine connection, not just technique. Whether you're working through past trauma, navigating attention or focus challenges, or facing the end of a significant relationship, I bring both compassion and directness to our work together. I'll meet you where you are, but I won't let you stay stuck there if real change is possible.

Parlami means "talk to me" in Italian, and that's exactly the invitation I extend to every client: a space to be honest, be heard, and do the real work of moving forward.

I bring a warm, direct, and collaborative presence to my work with clients. I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine partnership, so I balance compassionate listening with honest, sometimes challenging feedback when it serves your growth. I'm not one to sit back and nod along; I'll ask the hard questions and name what I'm noticing, always in service of helping you move forward.

My style is integrative and trauma-informed. I draw on approaches like EMDR and clinical hypnotherapy alongside more traditional talk therapy, adapting to what each client needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method. I hold space for difficult emotions without rushing past them, but I'm also practical, we're working toward real, tangible change in your life, not just insight for its own sake.

Clients often describe me as approachable, perceptive, and grounded. I use humor when it fits, I'm comfortable with silence, and I try to meet people exactly where they are, whether that's in acute crisis or working through longstanding patterns.

Your first session with me is about getting to know each other and building a foundation of trust. I'll ask questions about what's bringing you in, your history, and what you're hoping to get out of therapy, but this isn't an interrogation. It's a conversation, and I want you to leave feeling heard, not just assessed.

I create a space that's warm, honest, and free of judgment. You can expect me to be direct when it's helpful, but I always lead with compassion. My goal in that first session is to start understanding not just your symptoms or struggles, but who you are as a whole person, your strengths, your history, and what "better" would actually look like for you.

By the end of our first meeting, we'll usually have a general sense of direction: what we'll focus on early on, what approach might fit best (whether that's EMDR, hypnotherapy, or more traditional talk therapy), and what a realistic timeline might look like. You won't leave with a rigid treatment plan carved in stone, therapy is collaborative and evolves as we learn more together, but you should leave feeling like you have a partner in this process and a clearer sense of hope.