Dr. Melody Bacon

I am a clinical psychologist with over 26 years of specializing in relationship issues. I studied Jungian psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute and did my research on the transformative aspect of divorce. I work with dream analysis for clients who are interested. I have also taught in Marriage and Family Therapy programs for over 25 years and am an Emeritus Professor. My perspective is informed by Bowen Family Systems, which assists you in recognizing your defaults, changing your part in any relationship patterns that are problematic so that your life will work better for you. Be sure to call for a 15-minute consultation.

My approach is to listen with curiosity to each of my clients, and work to understand their experience of life and how their relationships work. We place this in the context of their larger family system by looking at patterns that the client has learned, and those which the client would like to change. My clients typically start to see changes within 3-6 sessions. My goal, as I tell my clients, is to help them fill their relationship skills toolbox so that they can utilize different approaches, not to change the other person, but to grow and change themselves so their lives work better for them!

After making sure I fully understand my client's experiences and issues, I will construct a family diagram so that we can see how things have worked in their family, and where their brain got wired, so to speak. We look at the strengths and the growth areas. I ask clients to identify 1 or 2 relationship patterns that have been the most problematic so that we can begin to examine the changes they can make.