About
Everybody hurts.
None of us is immune to the beauty – or tragedy – of human existence.
Patient and therapist, we are each human first, fellow travelers.
In psychotherapy, our paths will meet and join for a season and a journey – yours.
Make it count.
The therapeutic relationship is incredibly unique and particularly intimate. It’s one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in therapy and should not be entered lightly.
If, after speaking, we decide to work together, each of us will commit a considerable amount of time and energy toward a careful exploration of your life – and the realization of your goals.
Engaging in good therapy is strenuous. It can be as painful, emotional, and draining as it is inspiring, cathartic, and transformative.
But you won’t be alone.
We’ll explore all of this together, and the life awaiting you on the other side is profoundly worth it.
About Us
A genuine welcome!
You’ve found your way to our About page and are undoubtedly looking for more information. “What is it exactly you would like to know?”
Perhaps you’re curious about our credentials – how qualified are we to assist you with the weight of what troubles you? A very reasonable query – and if that is what you’re seeking – our credentials are outlined a bit farther below.
Or perhaps you are in search of something a bit more personal. Also, quite reasonable, I believe – though many in the field might disagree and affirm that we must remain apart from our patients – not letting them mean too much and not sharing too much of ourselves with them.
To be sure, some of that is true; and there is much about us, of course, that you will never know. But, the type of therapy we practice we view as a journey taken together.
And we believe those of us who dare to take that journey with our patients, as fellow travelers, rather than as distant and immune observers help create and reap a much richer experience. We are changed in meaningful ways by the therapeutic relationship, alongside the patient.
How can we expect you to trust us with the delicacies of your life and not be authentic about the fact that we are on the same journey? We, too, face the harrowing and the sublime in the world.
About Melissa
Like many psychologists, therapists, and others in this field, I happened upon psychology along the road I was traveling to figure out and work through my struggles and insecurities. I discovered that we can improve and enlarge ourselves and our lives in venerable ways with concerted effort and devoted exploration.
I love this work because it feels gritty, real, and meaningful. Each of these qualities seems a rarity in modern American life and relationship. I’m honored to be able to assist in the cultivation of each of them within the lives of others.
I’ve considered it a serious goal to fall in love with as many things in this life as possible. I live chasing inspiration, getting carried away by ideas and beautiful things, always seeming to experience emotions more intensely than most.
The minutiae of almost anything other than the individual kills me.
It’s why my house is generally a little messy and why I’d rather poke myself in the eye than discuss American politics. Although I can’t thoroughly grasp inferential statistics to save my life, I can see interdisciplinary connectedness and how broad, cultural characteristics can have psychological consequences on the individual with relative ease.
I’m a mother. My sons are 10 and 3. They’ve taught me to seize the day and revere life’s fragility synchronously. I lived years without them, thinking I knew what love was. I knew nothing.
Words can’t describe them – they are each an Adonis, and their presence in my life pushes me to live more fully.
When I’m not with my boys, reading, or writing, I’m working with incredible patients like you in private practice, baffled that I’ve been charmed enough to share the intricacies of your lives for a short time and bear witness to inspiring growth and evolution.
Experiences from previous patients:
“As a young professional, I found myself cornered by a deep loneliness, confusion, and indecision. Melissa’s unique approach helped me develop self-awareness from the ground up, to understand myself thoroughly, and how to handle my anxieties. I learned how to live authentically and with meaning.” G.A.
“Melissa’s genuine personality and welcoming attitude make anyone feel comfortable, and her insightful methods are invaluable for anyone looking to make progressive strides towards a better understanding of themselves, dealing with anxiety, and living a life with meaning.” R.M.
Melissa’s Credentials
Licensed Psychologist, Colorado PSY#5109
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Northern Colorado
Master of Arts, University of Denver
Bachelor of Arts, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
Professional Memberships
American Psychological Association
Humanistic Psychology, APA Division 32
Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, APA, Division 24
EMDR International Association
Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association
Continuing Education and Training Committee Member
Publications
Racho, Melissa, M. Assessing the Cultural Effects of Neoliberalism on Empathy. Published
Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, University of Northern Colorado.