Returning to work after giving birth is very hard for any mom. But, if you have postpartum anxiety returning to work gets extra complicated. In some cases, it can feel almost unbearable. Let’s Be Honest, Bringing Home Your Baby Was a Major Life Change In fact, you’re likely still adjusting to it. You may haveContinue reading “Postpartum Anxiety and Returning to Work After Maternity Leave”
Author Archives: Melissa Mellon, LMFT
An Adoption Counselor Shares How to Support your Child During the Holidays
Did you know that this November marks the first-ever National Adoption Month signed into effect by President Biden? As a bit of background, I specialize in working with adoptees and adoptive parents. I am an adoption counselor in Orange County, CA. So, I couldn’t be more thrilled that this subject is getting the recognition itContinue reading “An Adoption Counselor Shares How to Support your Child During the Holidays”
Empowerment for Women in Orange County, CA
“At this point in my life, it’s got to be incredible. Otherwise, I’m not interested.” This is a pretty powerful statement, huh? I heard this from a woman who was in her 50’s, about reconnecting with a long-lost love. She’d lived some life since seeing this man. She had been married with grown kids, divorced,Continue reading “Empowerment for Women in Orange County, CA”
Tips for Women to Combat Loneliness in Orange County, CA
All-day long, you’re busy, occupied, and/or focused (aka: distracted). Then, night falls, loneliness creeps in, and the phone goes quiet. You imagine your coworkers and coupled-up friends snuggled up with their partners, watching a movie or TV show. They must be enjoying a romantic, intimate and comfortable evening. You even imagine your single friends inContinue reading “Tips for Women to Combat Loneliness in Orange County, CA”
Counseling for Women: Coping with the Trauma of a Major Breakup or Divorce
Ending a relationship of any kind is very hard. Even if this is what you wanted. It still doesn’t mean that you want anyone to feel bad! In fact, you may have stayed longer than is healthy to avoid the inevitable pain and loneliness. A friend once said, “I can tell you over and overContinue reading “Counseling for Women: Coping with the Trauma of a Major Breakup or Divorce”
Counseling for Women in College: Issues and Anxiety in 2021
This year. Wow. When we thought things would feel a bit more “normal” in the world, new variants of COVID-19 pop-up. Breakthrough and new cases have surged and college students are left not sure exactly how to handle it all. As a college student, you are also navigating the “normal” concerns college students in CaliforniaContinue reading “Counseling for Women in College: Issues and Anxiety in 2021”
Couples Therapy: Coping with Anxiety About Becoming Foster or Adpotive Parents
Look at you go! You’ve made the decision to bring a foster child into your home. How beautiful is that! While this is a very exciting change for your family and partnership, there are likely lots of concerns coming up, too. Perhaps you and/or your partner have wanted to become a foster parent for years,Continue reading “Couples Therapy: Coping with Anxiety About Becoming Foster or Adpotive Parents”
Trauma in LGBTQIA+ Folks
There are many reasons folks in the LGBTQIA+ community seek therapy. American society was built on patriarchal values. These values have elevated heteronormativity throughout history and still today. Heteronormativity refers to the idea that being cis-gendered is the “right” way to be. It also promotes the idea that identities outside of cis-gender and heterosexual areContinue reading “Trauma in LGBTQIA+ Folks”
What To Do if Anxiety is Affecting Your Sleep
You’ve been here too many times before. Lying awake staring at the ceiling. You scroll on Instagram and make to-do lists in the dead of night because your brain won’t run a million miles a minute. Anxiety has kept you up late at night for years now. Or, ever since the intense stress of theContinue reading “What To Do if Anxiety is Affecting Your Sleep”
EMDR Therapy Worked For Jo on Grey’s Anatomy, But Can it Work for Me?
If you are a big Grey’s fan, you probably saw the episode last year where Jo works with a therapist on her long history of trauma. If you don’t have experience with EMDR therapy, it may not have really registered for you. Some people I ask about the episode don’t really remember much of it.Continue reading “EMDR Therapy Worked For Jo on Grey’s Anatomy, But Can it Work for Me?”