ABOUT Melissa
Melissa (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #85168), Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), EMDR Certified Therapist, Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F), 500 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training (CIT) and current student of Somatic Experiencing (SE). Melissa uses a variety of therapy techniques and tools to help client’s meet their goals. She is trained in the following: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and somatic therapy.
After working as a clinical social worker for nearly two decades in a variety of different systems and settings, Melissa founded Blue Sky Therapy in 2020. Blue Sky Therapy is a reflection of her professional passions, incorporating psychotherapy, somatic and creative practices into her therapy work. Melissa’s unique style is influenced by combining science and spirituality, with a blend of ‘Jersey Girl meets Joshua Tree’.
Melissa is a full-time resident of the High Desert and is deeply committed to healing individual and collective trauma by providing compassionate, holistic mental health care and wellness offerings in the community. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, practicing yoga, gardening, making pottery and spending time with family and friends.
areas of focus:
Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)
Anxiety
Compulsive Behaviors, Addiction and Relapse Prevention
Grief and Loss
Relationships
Military Population (Active duty, Veterans and Military Spouses)
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW), 2007
Rhode Island College, Providence, RI
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), 1999
Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
Licensure and Certifications:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), License #85168
Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), State of California
Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), #200100
Rhode Island Certification Board; International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
Certified EMDR Therapist, ID#60894692
EMDR International Association
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F)
Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI
Registered Yoga Teacher, 500 Hours (RYT 500), #244765, Yoga Alliance
Clinical Training
(A partial list)
Somatic Experiencing (SE) Trauma Training Program, 2023-Present
Current student
Thinking AIP and Using EMDR, 2023
Trained by Deany Laliotis, LCSW
Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the Inner Critic, 2023
Trained by Bonnie Weiss, LCSW
EMDR for Trauma and Addiction: Treatment Strategies to Help Clients Achieve Long Lasting Recovery, 2023
Trained by Megan Boardman, LCSW, ACADC
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Exiles Course, 2022
Trained by Bonnie Weiss, LCSW
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Legacy Burdens, 2022
Trained by Bonnie Weiss, LCSW
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Basic Course, 2022
Trained by Bonnie Weiss, LCSW
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS), 2022
Trained by Frank Anderson, MD
Easy Ego State Interventions, 2022
Trained by Robin Shapiro, MSW, LCSW
EMDR Recent Traumatic Episodes Protocol (R-TEP) and EMDR Group Traumatic Episodes Protocol (G-TEP), 2021
Trained by Connect EMDR Training & Consulting
EMDR, CBT and Somatic-Based Interventions to Move Clients from Surviving to Thriving, 2021
Intensive Trauma Treatment Certification Workshop with Dr. Jennifer Sweeton
Cultural Responsiveness and Addressing Cultural Trauma and Adversity in EMDR Therapy, 2021
Trained by EMDR Advanced Training & Distance Learning
Healing Trauma through the Body in EMDR, 2021
Trained by Karen Cole, LPC & Rebecca Ehrke, PhD
Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals, 2020
Trained by PESI
EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care, 2019
Trained by Institute for Creative Mindfulness
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, 2019
Completed Level 1 training; In process of completing Level 2 training.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Training, 2016
Completed EMDR Part 1 and 2 training through the EMDR Institute and 30 hours of EMDR-specific consultation.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) & Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) Coding System, 2016
Completed 13 hours of training in each area; Marine Corps Headquarters, Quantico, VA
Art Therapy Experiential Workshop, 2014
Completed 12 hours of art therapy training; Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Assessment and Treatment of Psychological Trauma Certificate Program, 2008
Completed 30 hours of training; Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA
Extensive training in addiction (including chemical dependency and gambling) and trauma. Specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), grief, domestic violence, compassion fatigue/vicarious traumatization and working with military populations.
YOGA TRAINING
300-hour Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) Certification Program, 2022
Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI
Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), 2021
Completed 20 hours of TCTSY training with Keri Sawyer, Licensed TCTSY Trainer, Openview Yoga
Yin Yoga Training, 2020
Completed 25 hours of Yin Yoga training: Soul of Yoga Institute, Encinitas, CA
Yoga Nidra: Sacred Rest Training, 2019
Completed 12 hours of trauma-informed Yoga Nidra training with LifeForce Yoga
YogaFit for Warriors Teacher Training Program, 2018-2019
Completed 100 hour Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training program in January 2019; Various locations.
YogaFit Yoga Nidra Training, 2018
Completed 8 hours of Yoga Nidra training; Las Vegas, NV
200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, 2017
Completed 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training; Power Yoga Palm Springs, CA
Trauma-Informed Yoga Training, 2016
Completed 14 hours of training with Street Yoga; Los Angeles, CA