Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Topeka, KS

I earned the MSW from the University of Kansas in 2014. I have since engaged in a range of direct human and mental health service work; including in-home therapy with youth and their families connected to state child protective services; crisis therapy and case management in a short-term crisis stabilization facility; outpatient community mental health therapy including work with individuals, families or couples, and groups.

I'm Melinda Powers, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) and owner of Parlami LLC, a private psychotherapy practice in Lawrence, Kansas. I hold an MSW from Arizona State University and am licensed in Kansas, Missouri, and Nevada.

My clinical approach is trauma-informed and integrative. I'm trained in EMDR and clinical hypnotherapy and I hold ADHD Clinical Services Provider credentials. I work with individuals, couples, and families ages 15 and up, with particular specialties in trauma recovery, ADHD, and conscious uncoupling for couples navigating separation or divorce.

I believe healing happens through genuine connection, not just technique. Whether you're working through past trauma, navigating attention or focus challenges, or facing the end of a significant relationship, I bring both compassion and directness to our work together. I'll meet you where you are, but I won't let you stay stuck there if real change is possible.

Parlami means "talk to me" in Italian, and that's exactly the invitation I extend to every client: a space to be honest, be heard, and do the real work of moving forward.

Life flows from the heart, so it's worth caring for. Heart Work Therapy was born out of my own journey of facing life's challenges and discovering that healing is possible. I know firsthand that meaningful change rarely happens alone.

The compassion, resilience, and hope I've gained through my own experiences allow me to come alongside others with empathy and understanding. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, or simply feeling stuck, you don't have to carry it by yourself. My desire is to provide a safe place where you feel seen, supported, and empowered as we work together toward healing and lasting change.

I work with busy adults and high functioning professional women experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, stress, burnout, mood concerns, and menopause related mood changes. As a dual-certified nurse practitioner in both adult-gerontology and psychiatric mental health allows me to take a comprehensive, whole-person approach. My goal is to provide personalized care that feels thoughtful, supportive, and not rushed.

Life can change in an instant. Whether you're coping with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or the impact of substance use, it's easy to feel like you've lost your footing or aren't quite yourself anymore. You may be carrying emotional pain that feels difficult to put into words while wondering if life will ever feel manageable again. You deserve support that helps you heal, regain confidence, and move forward one step at a time. I specialize in helping clients navigate substance use and addiction, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and trauma so they can build healthier coping skills, strengthen important relationships, and create lasting emotional wellness. I work with adults and seniors because I believe healing begins when you feel accepted, understood, and supported without judgment.

I've spent 20+ years working with people who are smart, self-aware, and still stuck — and there's a reason for that. Insight alone doesn't change deeply worn patterns. What does change them is combining the right clinical approach with someone who actually understands what you're carrying. I work with adults, teens, and children across Kansas via telehealth, and I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and ADHD — as well as LGBTQIA+ affirming care, substance use, and maternal mental health.

My style is direct and warm. I'm not a head-nodding, "how does that make you feel?" therapist. I'll ask hard questions when they're needed, and I'll be in your corner every step of the way.

I provide personalized and focused men's health that includes the psychological, biological, and spiritual domains of health and wellness. I am a dual board certified nurse practitioner in family medicine and psychiatry, so I understand and can treat the whole person. My doctoral studies focused on integrative medicine with an emphasis on men's health. I also have degrees in pastoral counseling and biblical exposition, so I am able to offer faith-forward mental health care for those who desire an integrated Christian experience.

I am drawn to matters of the heart, the deep questions we ask, how we find meaning, move through pain, and become more free. My own healing through relationships, therapy, spirituality, expressive arts, and body movement led me to become a therapist. I completed my MA in Couples and Family Therapy from Seattle University in 2019, opened my private practice in 2021, and have trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy for 6 years. I also bring experience as a yoga instructor, doula trainee, and spiritual seeker.