Education/Experience
Melodie obtained her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Cloud State University in 2008. She completed her practicum experience at Catholic Charities providing day treatment services to children and adolescents. After obtaining her Master’s degree, she began providing in-home therapy to children, adolescents and their families through Nystrom and Associates. Melodie transitioned to providing outpatient therapy at Nystrom and Associates, which included providing family therapy as well as individual therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. After a few years, Melodie moved to facilitating both group and individual DBT therapy to adolescents, and adults. After a few years of providing DBT services, Melodie expanded her training and began providing DBT combined with trauma-based therapies. Melodie conducted both group and individual DBT sessions though a trauma-focused lens by implementing Anchored Relational Model formerly AIR Network.

Specialized Training

Melodie completed basic individual DBT skills training which was later followed up with completion in the Foundational DBT skills training and DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy through Behavioral Tech: A Linehan Institute Training Company in 2016.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is effective in helping individuals who struggle with emotional and behavioral dysregulation that can often lead to ineffective and often life-threatening coping behaviors. DBT teaches individuals effective skills to manage the dialectics between acceptance and change. DBT helps people to develop mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effective skills, and distress tolerance. Once individuals learn skills to decrease their emotional suffering, they are then able to work toward building a life worth living.

Melodie is trained in the Adaptive Internal Relational (AIR) Network model of treatment. The AIR network model is a trauma-informed approach effective in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation. Melodie is a certificated AIR Network provider, and is in a consult group on a monthly basis with one of the AIR Network trainers, Dr. Phyllis Solon.

Melodie has completed training, and is approved to be a state board-approved supervisor for LMFT’s and LPCC’s.

Areas of Clinical Interest
Melodie has a specialized interest in working with adolescent and adult survivors of trauma. Melodie is always in awe of the resilience and strength individuals bring to therapy. Melodie enjoys helping clients to gain an awareness and understanding of themselves, and their own values. Melodie hopes that therapy provides space for clients, so they can show up and be seen in their own lives.

Practice Areas
Melodie works with adolescents, adults, individuals, and families.

Personal Statement
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with specialization in working with teenagers, families and adults. I have a background in utilizing a mixture of approaches in therapy ranging from DBT, Air Network and creative interventions. I blend a skills-based approach with client-centered therapy. I take a collaborative approach to treatment planning. I value brining humor into therapy when it is appropriate. I believe in the validity of everyone’s story, and that client’s are the expert of their life. I value building a therapeutic relationship that allows clients to be vulnerable and experience safety. I believe it is okay not to be okay.

Professional Affiliations
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Age Ranges
Adolescent (12-18), Adult (18-64+)