Melissa Carman, PhD., LMHC
1. One of my favorite childhood memories is . . .
Going to state parks with my family, hiking, swimming, grilling, and playing kickball. We would laugh until we fell on the ground!
2. I love being a mental health counselor because . . .
Being able to genuinely connect with people, helping them find and live their best lives, and helping them to restore hope is incredibly rewarding.
3. A life lesson I’ve learned from my clients is . . .
Healing happens through connection… connection to self and others.
4. Three words that describe my counseling style are . . .
Connected. Optimistic. Realistic.
5. When I’m not in counseling sessions, you’ll find me . . .
Shuffling kids to sports and spending time with my family.
6. Three people who inspire me are . . .
My 94 year old grandmother, my parents, my husband and kids, our CNYMHC team.
7. A quote that I live by is . . .
Learn like you’re going to live forever. Love like you’re going to die tomorrow.
8. One thing guaranteed to push me out of my comfort zone is . . .
Dancing
9. My best self-care technique is . . .
Quiet time, exercise, and belting show tunes.
10. This is how I found counseling and how counseling found me . . .
I was working in the Emergency Department trying to build my pre-med resume during college, but I gravitated to talking with the families and loved ones of the patients. Then I started to pursue psychology, and realized that so much of it resonated with me. Counseling found me when I was at my lowest and needed the support to find myself. It’s how I healed traumas and discovered that through healing, I could be who I’ve always wanted to be. It was like becoming unleashed.
11. One thing I could not live without is . . .
Hugs
12. If I were to tell a friend about mental health counseling, I would say . . .
Find the right person. It’s like dating! And then, you’ll never regret it.
13. The approaches I draw from in my counseling practice are . . .
Internal Family Systems, Trauma Informed CBT, Mind-body approaches, Client-centered.
14. Clients that challenge me the most have this in common . . .
Being withdrawn