Hi, I’m Melanie!
**I help people tune out the noise of the world so they can tune into who they’re meant to be.** I’m a clinical psychologist, brain coach, speaker, and author. My newest book, The Emotionally Intelligent Teen: Skills to Help You Deal with What You Feel, Build Stronger Relationships, and Boost Self-Confidence, gives teens and young adults the skills they need to improve their lives. With a deep commitment to guiding Gen Zers toward their most authentic selves, I offer insights and strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by today's youth.

I grew up in a pretty dysfunctional home and struggled with anxiety most of the time. I worried about everything— grades, what others thought of me, my parent’s constant fighting, my future, money, swim meets and softball games... you name it, I worried about it.

I had chronic stomach aches and problems, trouble falling asleep, and felt irritable and grumpy a lot. And to make it worse, I was taught to hold in whatever I was feeling and that I should NEVER tell anyone what was going on inside me!

My Education and Work Experience

I ended up learning about psychology during my undergraduate school and loved it; however, I wanted some life experience before I was going to do anything with it. As I told my mom at the age of 21, how could I help teens deal with life experiences if I had none myself? How could I help others with anxiety if I hadn’t yet learned how to deal with it on my own?

So off I went to San Francisco where I gathered enough life experience to fill a few life times— I traveled the country and the world, I met people from all walks of life, and I worked lots of fun jobs. I also used that time to go to therapy to learn how to deal with my anxiety, to journal, to create boundaries within unhealthy relationships, and to just learn how to like myself. Eventually I felt ready to return to school and begin my graduate training, first with a master’s degree in counseling and then a doctorate in clinical psychology.

I empower teens to recognize, understand and effectively manage their emotions, fostering healthier relationships and bolstering self-confidence. Recognized nationally for my expertise, I was invited to the White House to discuss the paramount importance of teen mental health.

I love working with teens and young adults because I get to give them the tools that I wish I would’ve had when I was younger. I get to be the support system that I so desperately needed. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a client change their negative self-talk, become less anxious, and learn to like themselves, flaws and all.

I want every teen and young adult to know that they can live a life aligned with their values. I want them to not just be the best version of themselves, but to be a version of themselves that they feel proud of. I want to be a part of the journey.