Kristine “Kristie” Melson

Kristie (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. Kristie is also Bi-lingual in English and American Sign Language and maintains her National Interpreter Certification. Kristie graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with both her BSW and MSW while also completing a Career Study Certificate in American Sign Language from Reynolds Community College.

Kristie’s experience includes centering Neurodivergent Affirming, LGBTQIA2+ Affirming, and Disability Affirming care and specializes in working with adolescents and adults in both individual and group therapy. Throughout her 15+ years in the social work field, Kristie has gained experience working with several multidisciplinary teams, has provided crisis/emergency services, outpatient individual and group therapy, case management, and has been active in disability rights and accessibility advocacy.

Kristie believes that understanding and centering the client’s values is essential to an effective and authentic therapy relationship. Kristie appreciates being able to show up to work as her authentic self and encourages clients to do the same – we have to put on many different masks or facades based on our circumstance- it is her goal to create a therapy space where each person can come as their true self and feel safe and seen.

Kristie is caring, empathetic, and honest. She demonstrates a deep respect for all people and the variety of human experiences, approaches herself and others with compassion, and also makes space for humor and sarcasm – the variety of human experiences calls for an equal variety of survival and coping strategies!

Specialties

Kristie’s areas of expertise include adolescents (ages 12+) and adults; Neurodivergence (ASD, PDA Profile, ADHD, BiPolar, Narcolepsy), depression, panic/anxiety, PTSD, emotional, physical & sexual abuse, trauma, religious trauma, stress management, relationship issues, life transitions, communication skill building and developing coping skills.  Kristie is LGBTQIA+ affirming, Neurodivergent affirming, and Disability affirming

Modalities

Kristie uses a variety of therapeutic modalities with her clients to include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Informed Skills, Polyvagal Theory, EMDR, ACT, solution focused therapy, strengths based, and mindfulness

Education

• Bachelor of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006
• American Sign Language Career Studies Certificate , J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 2006
• Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008

Licenses and Certificates of Completion

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Certified Eye Movement & Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist through EMDRIA
• National Interpreter Certification: NIC-A through Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)

Professional Memberships

• EMDRIA
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
• Anti-Oppression Task Force through Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work (VSCSW)