Melanie "Mel" Burbules, M.Ed

Melanie believes deeply in the power of an authentic and collaborative therapeutic relationship. Her therapeutic approach is grounded in empathy, openness, creativity, and curiosity. Melanie’s background as a professional opera singer has equipped her to help clients discover their true "voice." Using her training in person-centered counseling, she is committed to supporting clients in exploring challenges and inconsistencies, fostering self-understanding, and embracing strengths to lead to meaningful personal growth.

Melanie works with clients who are navigating anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, trauma, chronic stress, identity exploration, life transitions, grief, and body image/body positivity. Within a person-centered, strengths-based approach, Melanie also utilizes helpful language and skills rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (“CBT”) and dialectical behavioral therapy (“DBT”). She prioritizes exploring the ways systemic injustice impacts destructive beliefs, particularly for women of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, and she integrates feminist theory, advocacy, and allyship in the therapeutic space.

“As a therapist, I love working with clients who feel stuck or sense something holding them back from their true selves. You might be grappling with major challenges that impact every facet of your life and desperately want to find healing. I believe this healing is about discovery and understanding, with evolving goals and sometimes contradictions as you align with yourself. My approach is grounded in the belief that authenticity is your greatest strength, leading to a life rich with meaningful growth, connections, and joy. As Carl Rogers asks in "Becoming a Person," Am I living in a way that deeply satisfies me and which truly expresses me?” Together, we can work towards a resounding "yes" to that vital question of personal satisfaction and expression.