Catholicism, Combat, and Couples Counseling

I met Melissa during my internship at the start of my career. We were working at a court-mandated treatment center with clients who were charged with DUIs and drug possession charges. We were both starting out on our journeys to be psychotherapists and working in that intense environment was a wakeup call to us! We were confronted by the brokenness of the justice system and the corruption of the treatment industry. We bonded immediately while trying to make progressive change and to stick to our ethics. In this episode you'll hear about Melissa's past experiences with substance abuse and PTSD. Coming from a military family, Melissa had a very rigid childhood and grew up with her father and brother who have PTSD. She'll share how that experience shaped her and broke her heart wide open so that she could be able to help others. Growing up in an unhealthy family dynamic, Melissa had to find ways to survive and connect with others. Throughout all of that she maintained her incredible sense of humor, razor sharp intellect, and disciplined focus. She's now a couples counselor in Boulder, CO who helps her clients create powerful and intimate bonds that can last a lifetime. Join us as we take a trip through the darkness of addiction and into the hopefulness of love.