Melissa Morais Parr

Hi, I'm Melissa Morais Parr, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified EMDR Therapist. I specialize in supporting women through postpartum mental health challenges, birth trauma, and the intense transition into early motherhood. My work centers on helping moms feel less alone in this season- whether they're navigating postpartum anxiety or depression, processing a difficult or traumatic birth, or simply trying to find their footing amid the overwhelm of new parenthood. I bring both clinical training and personal experience to this work. I believe therapy for moms should feel like a place to exhale, not another thing to perform in.

My approach is warm and collaborative- I want sessions to feel like a space where you can put down the pressure to hold it all together. I often use EMDR to help clients process birth trauma and difficult memories that feel "stuck," alongside more traditional talk therapy for postpartum anxiety, depression, and the identity shifts that come with new motherhood. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so we'll figure out together what pace and structure actually work for you- some clients want concrete tools right away, others need space to process before we get there. Above all, I aim to meet you where you are, without judgment, so you can move through this season feeling more like yourself again.

Your first session is really about getting to know each other- I'll ask about what brought you in, what you've been experiencing, and what support has (or hasn't) looked like so far. There's no pressure to have it all figured out or to say things "the right way"; we'll go at whatever pace feels comfortable. By the end of that first conversation, my goal is for you to leave with a clearer sense of how we will work together and what the next few sessions will look like, plus at least one small thing that feels a little lighter. Most of all, I want you to walk away feeling heard and supported.