Hola! I am Melissa (She/Elle)
There are many parts of me that make me, me. Besides being a bilingual clinical mental health counselor, I am a parent, a partner, a student, and an educator. I love humor, Colombian food, learning about cultures, and animals (for those interested, we already have a bird, three cats, and four dogs in our home- I know, what a furry home!).
Of Colombian roots, I immigrated to the United States in my teens. My interest in mental health comes from my personal experience with trauma, acculturation stress, disordered eating, and identity development. Growing up in an environment where stigma and misinformation related to mental illness, identities, and health were salient, I ventured into the counseling and psychology world in the hope of unlearning, connecting, and holding space with others…. and here I am!
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Associate’s of Arts: Catawba Valley Community College
Bachelor’s of Science: The University of North Carolina in Greensboro
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: The University of North Carolina in Greensboro
Ph.D in Counseling and Counselor Education: The University of North Carolina in Greensboro (anticipated completion date: May 2024)
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Eating disorders, body image concerns, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and identity concerns.
As a bilingual counselor, I also provide mental health services in English and Spanish in private, community, and college settings.
In addition to counseling and consulting services, I collaborate with local lawyers to complete immigration-related evaluations.
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NC# 13124)
National Certified Counselor (# 901790).
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), Brainspotting, and Intuitive Eating trained.
Why Cafecito Counseling?
“Quieren un Cafecito?”- my mom would ask whenever we had visitors, after a meal, or just to warm up. That’s how I knew people were about to gather and start talking.
For many cultures, food is representative of abundance, hospitality, comfort, traditions, emotions, and healing. Growing up in the coffee region of Colombia, connecting with friends and family over a warm drink such as coffee was a familiar scene for me.
Pull up that seat and that cafecito (or other non-caffeinated beverage-haha), and let’s chat!