Melissa Montello (she/her)

Grief and loss tend to be focused heavily on death in our society. While death is a large component of grief, it is not the only component. Grief and loss can occur when you've had to end a relationship, lost a job, struggle to conceive, etc. That experience does not just stem from losing a loved one, it stems from many sources and those deserve to be held and witnessed.

PTSD is when your nervous system has been overwhelmed beyond its capacity to cope. This can happen from singular events such as a car accident. It can occur from serving in high conflict areas such as wars. It can also be a result from your childhood experiences of abuse (physical, emotional, mental sexual), neglect, and abandonment. Your body remembers it all no matter if it is one time or a life time. Working to process and heal those wounds can make a significant impact on your life.

Infertility is not talked about often enough. Struggling to conceive can take a toll not only on your body but also your mental and emotional health, your relationship with your partner, family and even your friends. Experiencing this struggle comes with loss, grief and often trauma that can forever change you. Infertility is something that many feel alone in and that goes for all people, heterosexual couples, same sex couples, and trans-couples. All experiences should be heard and felt.

Being aware of what were thinking, feeling, and doing can be a changing point for many. It's not uncommon to feel like you are just walking through life and never understanding what is actually going on inside you. Practicing skills to help bring you into self-awareness through a mindfulness practice is a huge step in moving through your challenges and becoming who you would like to be.

Our body tells us what is happening. Whether it is anxiety, or PTSD, your body knows what is going on. Working through a mindful and somatic approach, I help you connect with your nervous system to learn how to read what is happening, as well as utilize skills to bring you back into yourself to help process and regulate your emotions.

We are relational creatures. We function from a place of attachment and connection to others. These attachments can affect our overall wellbeing include our ability to regulate emotions and feel like we belong. EFT helps to stabilize the self as well as key relationships with others.