Approaches
Specialties
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care
Tailored, Culturally Competent Care:
We recognize that LGBTQIA+ individuals may face distinct challenges and stressors. Our therapist tailor their therapeutic approaches to address these unique needs, offering support and guidance that aligns with each client's goals and values.
Please click the title to find more information on our neurodivergent affirming care.
At MHT, we offer a therapeutic approach that celebrates and supports neurodiversity. Our goal is to provide a safe, understanding, and empowering space for individuals who identify as neurodivergent, recognizing the unique strengths and challenges that come with it.
Self-Esteem
Therapy for self-esteem is about recognizing your worth, understanding your strengths, and addressing areas where you might be overly self-critical. Our experienced therapist will provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore these aspects of yourself.
Relational Trauma
Relational trauma can result from experiences like emotional neglect, abuse, or betrayal within close relationships. It can cast a long shadow on our emotional well-being, affecting our self-esteem, trust, and overall quality of life. We are committed to helping you rewrite the story of your relationships.
Substance Management
Recovery is a journey that requires resilience and support. Our therapy equips you with practical tools and coping strategies to overcome cravings, manage triggers, and build a strong foundation for a life with more clarity. Whether your goals include full sobriety or harm reduction strategies, we are here to offer non-judmental support.
Trauma and PTSD
Recovery from trauma is possible. Through therapy, you'll learn coping strategies, process painful memories, and build emotional resilience, paving the way to a brighter, more hopeful future.
Melanie Hanson is a trauma informed therapist with experience treating early childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, complex trauma and sexual abuse. Melanie is currently studying EMDR and IFS to better assist in healing PTSD.
Modalities
Below are the core therapeutic approaches that I operate from.
However, we are not limited to these. I welcome the exploration of other modalities and what works best for you as a client.
Humanistic Therapy
Humanistic therapy, is a therapeutic approach that places a strong emphasis on the individual's inherent capacity for self-awareness, self-growth, and self-actualization. Rooted in humanistic psychology, this therapy modality focuses on helping clients explore their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their lives.
Key features include a client-centered approach, a holistic perspectice, self-actualization and personal responsibility. With an emphasis on the "here and now", humanstic therapy strives for growth and fulfillment.
Dialectical
Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic approach that was originally developed to help individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) but has since been adapted for various mental health conditions. DBT combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness practices and acceptance strategies.
Key features of DBT include a dialectical approach of finding balance, mindfulness, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance.
DBT is traditionally given in a group and individual setting. DBT is a great skills based modality to help manage intense emotions.
Existential Therapy
Existential therapy is a philosophical and humanistic approach to psychotherapy that focuses on exploring the fundamental questions and concerns that arise in the human experience, such as the meaning of life, freedom, choice, responsibility, and death. Developed by existential philosophers and psychologists, including Viktor Frankl, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Rollo May, this therapy emphasizes self-awareness, authenticity, and personal responsibility.
Key features of existential therapy include exploration of themes like meaning and purpose, emphasis on the individual experience, existential anxiety, freedom and responsbility, authenticity, living in the present and the collaboration of the therapeutic relationship.
Attachment Theory
Attachment theory, developed by British psychologist John Bowlby and expanded upon by others like Mary Ainsworth, is a psychological framework that explores the nature of emotional bonds and attachments between individuals, particularly focusing on the parent-child relationship.
Key features of attachment theory include understanding the biological nature of attachment, the impact of attachment styles, striving towards secure attachment, the role of attachment in relationships and managing issues of trauma, insecurity or difficulties with healthy relationship through the lens of our biological attachment. Learning your attachment style gives clarity to the intrinsic needs that you may struggle to communicate.