Hi there! I’m melissa
I always knew that I wanted to have a career that allowed me to help others realize their own potential and live joyful and fulfilling lives. Pursuing this calling has provided me with the opportunity to work in a variety of different settings throughout my professional career, both in my home country of the United States, and abroad (in English and Spanish).
I have my master’s and PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology. For the past 7 years I’ve been focusing my professional energy on providing therapy and coaching to the international community. I currently provide online coaching to international clients living around the world. I also teach the international, empirically-supported Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course and love integrating the powerful tools from this program into my work with clients.
My clients include expats, repats, immigrants, digital nomads, adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs), study abroad students, diplomats, NGO employees, professionals working in international education, and people in intercultural relationships. My own experience living abroad for 10 years (Spain & the Netherlands) helps me to understand firsthand the challenges that come with living a life that spans cultures, languages, & time zones. Because of this I’m able to bring a great deal of empathy and understanding to the work I do with my clients.
Although I repatriated to my hometown of Seattle, WA (United States) in 2019 and ended my time abroad, I still consider myself a global nomad. I’m in an intercultural marriage, raising a bilingual Cross-Cultural Kid, and we speak both English and Spanish in our home. I’m also in contact with colleagues living around the world as a co-founder of the Location Independent Therapists (LIT) Community.
Some other things about me- I’m Highly Sensitive and an empath, multi-passionate, and a recovering perfectionist. I feel most alive when I’m dancing (bachata, salsa, and Lindy Hop are some of my favorites, but dancing in my living room is just fine too), and I recently started working on my lifelong dream of writing a book.
My Approach
The first thing we’ll do is explore different areas of your life to identify where you’re feeling stuck or unhappy and clarify what it would look like if you felt more fulfilled.
We’ll explore what things you’ve already tried and what tools you already have at your disposal. Then I’ll introduce you to new tools and strategies that have helped my clients, and myself, to gain greater clarity, confidence, satisfaction, and joy in their lives. Each person is unique so we’ll be sure to focus on finding what works best for you.
I want my clients to be able to bring their whole selves to our sessions, which is why I strive to create an environment in sessions that is inclusive of all, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, race, health status, national origin, relationship status, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, body size, and religion.
QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
- Master’s Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, minor in Sociology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA
You can find even more information about my professional experience and training on LinkedIn.
Ready to set up your first coaching session? You can also schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and see if it would be a good fit to work together.
get in touch
Fill out the contact form below with any questions you have about my services, blog, or collaboration opportunities. I look forward to hearing from you!
