Melissa Jennings Carman, PhD, LMHC

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Being withdrawn