Grief counselors and therapists in Buffalo, NY

I bring over 15 years of experience working with children, families, and schools to help people understand their emotions, strengthen relationships, and build the tools they need to thrive. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that we all do the best we can with the tools we have—and that with the right support, we can grow and heal.

I’m glad you’re here. I’m a warm, down-to-earth, and non-judgmental therapist who truly wants to know you—not just what’s going wrong, but who you are as a whole person. I work with people navigating anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and LGBTQIA+ concerns. Clients often tell me I’m easy to talk to, compassionate, and genuinely invested in their growth. If you’ve been looking for a space where you can feel understood and supported, you’re in the right place.

I believe therapy should be both a safe place to land and a space that inspires meaningful change. As an art and talk therapist, I offer a warm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore their experiences, emotions, and patterns with honesty and curiosity.

I integrate creative expression with traditional psychotherapy, recognizing that sometimes words alone are not enough. Through art-making, reflection, and conversation, I help clients deepen their self-understanding, process difficult experiences, and connect with strengths they may not yet fully recognize.

Hi, I'm Mel Joy, a healer with 25+ years of experience witnessing how resilient people can be. We all experience ebbs & flows of transitions and struggles, while constantly evolving. Life can be both beautiful & messy, and I'm humbled and honored to help you sort through it in individual and/or group therapy. Our minds & emotions uniquely shape our perception of reality. No two people have the same experience, and there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" treatment modality. No matter how different we may be, one thing we all share is the capacity for joy & pain, and everything in between.

I am a licensed social worker with over twenty years of experience supporting children, individuals, and families. My professional background includes working in diverse settings such as outpatient community mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, and educational environments. I hold a Master of Social Work degree from SUNY Stony Brook and a post-graduate certificate from the NYU Silver School of Social Work.

I specialize in treating anxiety disorders and providing guidance during life transitions. My approach is compassionate, client-centered, and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual I work with.

A significant portion of my work is facillitating change and helping clients gain more self awareness to address the problems in their lives that are bringing them to therapy. I've been a therapist since 2012. Time sure does fly. I started my career with the Department of Veteran Affairs and continued to work with veterans and their families for a significant portion of my career. I have since branched out into private practice. I specialize in supporting clients with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship problems, and family issues. I am trained in multiple evidence based therapies to help clients address their concerns and reach their goals. My approach is dependent on the problems or issues that we focus on for therapy. I am client-centered in my approach and strive to create a therapeutic environment and relationship that is founded in trust, genuineness and positive regard. I work closely with clients to help them connect with their values to gain insight, understanding and self-compassion.

Additionally, I have about 9 years of couples therapy under my belt. I primarily use EFT for couples, which focuses on helping the couple identify and change their conflict cycle, as well as strengthening the relationship bond. I also utilize some Gottman principles to help couples to develop healthy relationship habits.

I also work with a number of clients individually who seek out extra support to improve their relationship with their partner. Having skills in couples therapy and understanding conflict dynamics is really helpful to assist clients on a 1-1 basis to improve their relationship.

Please reach out for a free consultation appointment to see if we would be a good fit. For the consultation, I meet with you by phone or video, whichever you prefer.

Please visit my website for more information: www.patrickduceycounselingservices.com