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Melissa Hyman, LMHC
Pronouns: she.her
I love being a therapist. Each session is like sorting through a thrift store, or creating a recipe out of whatever ingredients are in the pantry. Your thoughts and feelings may not seem to fit together or make sense, but often we find that they really do. I find that my belief and excitement in doing therapy is contagious, and even by the second session, clients express more hope. I am also happy to believe in you and see the strength in you, even when you can’t find it in yourself. At times, we have to be too strong in life, and if ease can be found in the therapy room, I am happy to create that with you.
I believe therapy is best done when you get to be the expert on you. I will then bring ideas of things we can try and new ways of looking at problems. I will sometimes ask, given there are infinite ways to do therapy, is there anything that could have been a bit different today, or is there anything we can put on the menu for next time? Another thing I may is ask is what felt good, helpful or interesting. My goal is to keep being curious and to be the best therapist for the person you have brought in the room that day.
Specialties include:
-Adults (age 18+)
-LGBTQIA2+
-Trans & Non-Binary Affirming
-Neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD, etc)
-Identity Development & Exploration
-Spirituality, Grief/Loss & Transition
-Body Positive (HAES Affirming)
-Highly Sensitive People/Empaths
-Relationship Issues
-Anxiety & Depression
-Self Esteem, Worth & Self Compassion
-Boundary Realignment & Relational Trauma
-Disability/Chronic Illness Affirming
-IFS Level 1 Trained
-Liberation Psychology, Reclaiming Heritages
*Art Therapist
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Telehealth Only
My approach...
I specialize in working with grief, chronic pain and/or disability, queerness, ADHD, autism, mood struggles, family conflict, trauma and painful transitions. That said I have learned more from lived experience (my own or those of loved ones who have faced these things) than I could get from any book or training. I like to think of neurodivergent pride like gay pride: it allows us to go from “I wish I was, and hope I am, OK,” to “I’m so much more than OK.”
I believe that therapy goals work better if they are about what you want to work towards, rather than what you want to get away from. Sometimes, the things we push away or avoid chase us, but the things we focus on grow. I am a good fit for clients who are curious to understand themselves. That said, sometimes practical sessions are needed: full of first steps and deciding what is most important. We can do a vent session of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Or we might talk very little, using guided relaxation, or feeling our way into unknown feelings.
My approach holds that all of us have some unconscious wisdom that we don’t know how to connect with. My tools of unconditionally compassionate listening and reflecting you back to yourself, art therapy and internal family systems work can help you to discover that wisdom. I understand that you are the hero of your own journey, and will help you to understand yourself more as that hero.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an almost meditative process, but can also be very mapping and systematic. The theory holds that it is normal to have parts of ourselves that are in conflict, suffer and that need help. We will, in a sense, do family therapy with all your parts, in order to create more acceptance, harmony, peaceful collaboration, and compassion within yourself. I have seen it create some immediate relief, even when an incredibly painful external situation has not changed.
Professional training & memberships...
Melissa is in-network with Premera, Cigna, Regence, First Choice, Kaiser, LifeWise, Anthem and some other Blue Cross plans. Please be aware that Protea Wellness cannot accept insurance for couple's therapy.
Melissa's fees:
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50-minute session for individuals: $195
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50-minute session for families: $195;
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80-minute session for couples: $295.
I trained in mental health counseling and art therapy at Antioch University. My passion and special interest in ADHD, autism, highly sensitive people and other neurodivergence has led me to specialized ongoing learning and recent intensive trainings in the intersection between IFS and neuroqueer therapy. My history working in the field of domestic violence led me to art therapy, as a powerful tool for facing violence and oppression.
I myself picked up a crayon one day and became my own first client. My closest friend led me to explore books like She Who Was Lost Is Remembered and The Artist’s Way. During a painful time, I found my way back to painting and making art. I began having vivid dreams and it became clear to me that while I don’t know if I am good at art, I know that art is good for me. The purpose of art therapy is making therapy more enjoyable, and expressing things that are hard to convey to yourself and others in words. I have seen people make incredibly meaningful and therapeutic art with scribbles, doodles and collage. I believe that anything can be creative, and am open to using whatever speaks to you: whether it is crafting, journaling, or other ways of creating.
Social justice work has been important in my work. I have helped clients with very significant mental health struggles in residential and psychiatric hospital settings. My domestic violence work history was where I first developed art as a way of helping, and I have worked with clients with physical and intellectual disabilities. For the past 6 years, I have been doing individual, outpatient therapy and am eager to continue working with clients for rest of my life.
