GREENSBORO, RALEIGH & NORTH CAROLINA
COUNSELING & THERAPY
MEET
MELISSA CARMONA
Greensboro & Telehealth Office
¡yo hablo español!
Hola! I’m Melissa (She, Her, Hers).
I'm So Glad You're Here!
The fact that you are here, means you have taken a huge step in your search for healing. This work is not easy. In fact, facing our pain and acknowledging what makes us uncomfortable can feel very new and so can be scary and overwhelming. I know these feelings too well because I have been in that space myself.
It Can Get Better
We currently live in a society that tells us very rigid, confusing,
and contradicting messages:
don't ask for too much,
be more, you are not enough,
you are too much, dont be different,
don't speak up,
don't stay quiet.
Because of these, we frequently find ourselves making decisions based on expectations and pressure from ourselves and others, making decisions based on “shoulds” and “haves," and making decisions based on fear, guilt, and shame. I don't want to tell you what you "should" do.
I Want To Help You Trust Your Own Voice.
My goal in this work is never to take away, minimize, or erase your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions.
My hope is to help you learn ways you can expand and allow space more in your life.
I Believe We Can Do Scary Things Together And Heal.
However you now find yourself here, my hope is to be able to walk alongside you, provide some guidance and, most of all, offer a safe and non-judgmental space where you can be your most authentic self. Don't know who your most authentic self is? Well, that's something we can explore together.
Reconnecting with your body and food is possible.
If you are trying to heal your relationship with food and your body, you've come to the right place. I work from a Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating approach, which means we will tackle topics such as food, body image, health, and movement from a social justice perspective and work on expanding our definitions of these through self-compassion and acknowledgment of what your individual story may be.
Who You Are Matters
As a Latina, I have come to learn what it is like to disconnect from parts of my cultural identity in hopes to connect with others; only to feel more isolated. My healing began once I was able to make space for all the parts of myself to exist and reconnect with one another, as well as with myself.
If you’re looking for a space to truly be seen and heard, if you’re ready to start feeling like yourself again, ready to gain control, or simply ready to find some balance in your life---I'd love to help you experience it.
READY TO BE SEEN?
Want more specifics about my training and experience?
Read on below:
MY EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
I attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of people, including, teens, adults, and families. My clinical experience includes helping clients with trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, negative body image, and identity concerns. In addition to Three Birds, I also used to work at a Community Care Center where I provided counseling both in English and Spanish and was responsible for screening and assessing patients that came in for doctor's appointments. I screened for depression, anxiety, domestic violence, and substance abuse. I have had the opportunity to work with a number of people going through disability (and the grief that comes with that), and well as numerous immigrant families struggling to become adjusted to this new country and new political climate. As a Spanish Speaker, I hope to bring more access to mental health services to the local Spanish-Speaking communities.
I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), a a brain-based trauma protocol that helps clients identify, process, and release core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, lower affective distress and physiological arousal, and reformulate negative beliefs into more positive ones.
MY CREDENTIALS
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(NC# 13124) and National Certified Counselor (# 901790).
PERSONAL
I wear many hats in my life. Beyond being a therapist, I am a partner, a parent, and a furry mom to a cat, a bird, and two dogs. Things I love include: My culture (its food, collectivistic values, and everything in between), my loved ones, learning, reading, watching movies, and spending time in nature.
I love my home country Colombia, and when I have the privilege of being able to, I visit my family there.