Melissa Strickland

You don't have to have everything figured out before we meet. You don't need the perfect words, a diagnosis, or a clear understanding of what's wrong. You simply have to show up, and I'll meet you where you are. I believe the ways you've survived deserve curiosity and compassion, not judgment, and we'll explore them together with openness rather than shame. My style is warm, direct, and genuine, with room for humor when it helps. I'll support you, challenge you when it serves your growth, and stay with you through the difficult moments without rushing the process. My practice is an explicitly affirming space for adoptees, LGBTQQIA2S+ individuals and families, neurodivergent thinkers, and people in polyamorous, kink, and other nontraditional relationship structures. You won't have to explain or defend who you are here. You'll simply be welcomed. Above all, I believe healing begins when we feel truly seen, understood, and accepted. Creating that kind of space is at the heart of my work and the foundation of every therapeutic relationship I build.

My approach to therapy is relational, insight-oriented, and tailored to you. I believe many of the struggles that bring people to therapy are not signs that something is wrong with them, but understandable adaptations to difficult experiences. Together, we'll explore the patterns that have shaped your life with curiosity and compassion while building new ways of relating to yourself and others. I believe the therapeutic relationship is one of the most powerful tools for healing, so I strive to create a space where you feel genuinely seen, understood, and safe enough to grow.

Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, I draw from a range of evidence-based therapies based on your unique needs and goals. My work integrates relational and psychodynamic therapy with attachment theory, Schema Therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, narrative therapy, somatic approaches, and expressive arts. I also incorporate psychoeducation throughout our work because understanding why you think, feel, and respond the way you do can be deeply empowering. For some clients, healing also includes creative and experiential approaches, including tabletop role-playing games, when they support the work we're doing together.

Everything I do is grounded in a feminist and liberation-focused perspective that recognizes the impact of relationships, culture, identity, and systems on our mental health. I am committed to creating a therapeutic space where your strengths are honored, your survival is never pathologized, and every part of your identity is met with respect, curiosity, and care.

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you're talking with someone new about things that are difficult to say out loud. My goal is to make our first session feel like the beginning of a conversation, not an interrogation. We'll move at your pace, and you never have to share more than you're ready to. I'll ask about what brought you to therapy, what's been feeling difficult, and what you're hoping might change. We'll also spend some time getting to know your story, including the experiences and relationships that have shaped you, so I can better understand how to support you.

Just as importantly, we'll talk about what you want for your life. Your goals, values, and hopes will guide the work we do together. By the end of our first session, my hope is that you'll have a sense of whether I feel like the right therapist for you. The therapeutic relationship matters, and I want you to leave feeling heard, understood, and comfortable asking yourself, "Can I see myself doing this work with this person?" You won't leave with everything figured out, but you won't have to take the next steps alone.