Find a therapist in Grand Junction, CO — covered by insurance

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been helping people since 2005. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depression, and life transitions, with a primary focus on EMDR. For clients who are interested, I also offer AcuWellness as a complementary option. My style is direct yet warm, using humor to help clients feel at ease.

I began this journey just seeking to learn about psychology and the nature of human behavior. The more I learned, the more I became fascinated with how resilient humans are in the face of significant challenges. However, what I found was that people will continue to live with underlying pain, because of the stigma previously put on people seeking help with mental health and trauma issues. I found that people created their own ways of coping and it often involved creating more harm. I knew at this time that I wanted to help people begin to face tough emotions and move toward healing the emotional pain.

I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1991 and a Master of Science Degree in General Psychology in 1993 from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS. I later went back for another Master of Science Degree in Counseling Psychology from Avila University in Kansas City, MO in 2014.

I have worked in the areas of domestic violence, at-risk youth, at-risk families, foster and adoption, and addiction. I specialize in working with trauma and addiction.

Melissa ("Mel") Klootwyk, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over eight years of psychiatric mental health experience providing care across inpatient, PHP, IOP, and outpatient settings to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Mel has experience treating a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, to more complex mood, trauma-related, thought, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

I am the Founder of EQ Therapy (eqtherapy.co), a private practice designed for high-performing clients. I also teach at NYU in their graduate mental health counseling program. My dissertation at Johns Hopkins focused on the mental health experience of intercollegiate student-athletes. I supervise therapists at EQ Therapy who are accepting new clients for individual and couples therapy. If you're a couple, college student, industry leader, entrepreneur, or athlete, schedule a session with with me today!

I have experience with adults and teenagers in systems of care including nonprofits, hospitals, and outpatient facilities. I specialize in trauma and addictions but enjoy working with variety in all its forms. I am passionate about adventure and the outdoors and want to help my clients improve their relationship to the land, connection to self, and deepening the quality of our interactions with others.

Clinical experience: 30+ years working with adults, couples, families, adolescents, and children specializing in trauma and co-occurring disorders with an integrative and holistic approach. Graduated from Saybrook University: Doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology (2010); Naropa University: Masters in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology & Art Therapy.

I am a dual board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner committed to supporting your mental wellness. I help children, teens and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, mood disorders and ADHD.

I completed my training at Case Western Reserve University, and I went on to complete additional certification at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

I aim to create a safe space where you feel heard and empowered. I would love to assist you on your path to growing, as we work together to achieve personalized, goals that promote positive outcomes.

My Positive, Storied Approach to Personal and Professional Growth

Everyone’s life is a grand story, filled with twists and turns, good things and bad things, all grounded in personal life themes. I consider it an enormous honor to be invited into someone’s story and believe that everyone has the power to take control of their stories, write the next chapter, and then make it happen.

Be the hero of your own story! Together we can talk about everything from what you want to include as you move forward, what you want to leave behind, and even the cast of characters in your life! Through thoughtful and genuine exploration, we both gain a better understanding of you and what you bring to the world including your strengths and talents, meaning and purpose. Through the process, my goal is to empower you to create a meaningful story you can be excited to step into.

I am an NCDA Certified Career Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado. I have PhD in Counselor Education and a master's degree in mental health counseling. I currently serve on the boards of both the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the American Counseling Association (ACA). I bring my strengths, training, and experience to our career and counseling work together.