Melissa Dombrowski

• I am a down to earth therapist and am committed to understanding and helping the WHOLE person, not just bits and pieces. My style tends to focus more on empowering and finding simple but effective solutions so that people can be the best version of themselves. I am a veteran wife and have seen the effect of how time in the military can affect the family structure both negatively and positively. I've also struggled with Chronic Lyme Disease for over 20 years so I can empathize with issues that can be associated with chronic illness, both mentally and physically.
• I attended Eastern Illinois University for my Bachelor's in Sociology and Loyola University of Chicago for my Masters in Social Work with a concentration in mental and behavioral health. After my obtaining my degree, I worked for several different agencies in different states and settings, where I gained my Clinical Licensure.
• My field experience has ranged from working in community health centers, within prisons and the juvenile justice system, in inpatient behavioral health settings, schools, homeless shelters, and developmental facilities for those with intellectual disabilities. My time within all of those settings, has provided me with a vast amount of knowledge within my field on how to combat a range of issues.

My approach to therapy is to start where you are, because everyone is unique and is going through something different. We do this on your pace and comfort level. Then, we can figure out a game plan on how to move forward, whether it be traditional talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), finding solutions to everyday issues, dealing with chronic illness, your child's behavioral issues, or your own mental health struggles. Right now, I am fully remote but eventually plan to obtain office space for a more personalized session. I specialize in trauma-focused issues, anxiety and depressive disorders, bipolar and borderline personality difficulties, child abuse and parental custody issues, and teenage behavioral issues.

After each session I want a person to feel refreshed and like they've had a weight lifted off thier shoulders. To have people feel like they have the tools they need to keep going and feel better, even outside of the therapy session.