Meet Mel
Melissa Gericke, LPCC (CA), LMHC (NY)
Virgo Sun / Virgo Moon / Libra Rising
she/they
I am a queer, gender non-conforming, white creator and psychotherapist currently practicing therapy online in California and New York. I came to my work as a therapist through my own healing journey, which I see as a lifetime commitment of uncovering and becoming. While it has led to a lot of complications and upheavals, it has also allowed me to live a more fully expressed life. It is through this experience that I witness the resiliency and strength that occurs when we are given the support and space to be truly seen.
Before entering private practice, I worked as an individual therapist and group facilitator at a drug and alcohol outpatient program in Ithaca, New York on occupied Haudenosaunee land. Through this work I witnessed the impact of the judicial and carceral systems on people and their families, along with the stigma of substance use. I began to see that in order to build and maintain authentic healing relationships punishment, shame and judgement could not exist. This experience also helped me to examine my role as a therapist and acknowledge the intersections of identity between me and my clients, which I am continually committed to.
Helping to heal the impact of trauma and PTSD/c-PTSD is at the heart of my work. I work mostly with adults who have intersecting identities, including gender, sexuality, race, class and disability. In particular, I work with people who have experienced emotional abuse, burnout, intergenerational trauma, womb or birth trauma, attachment trauma, religious trauma and sexual assault. I draw from Relational Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychotherapy. I am also trained in Parts Work and EMDR, which can help transcend limiting beliefs, develop more day to day ease and gain a greater sense of agency. As a therapist, I meet client’s with authenticity, warmth, curiosity and full attunement.
When I am not working I enjoy making cut paper collages, writing, reading, studying various topics and spending time in the woods or near the ocean.
If you live in California and New York and have an interest in psychotherapy sessions, I occasionally have openings in my private practice. If you would like to learn more about me or my work please visit my website: https://melissagerickepsychotherapy.com.