Hello, My name is Melissa Hurt and I hold a Clinical Social Worker license (LICSW). My background is just as unique as yours is and I cannot wait to come alongside you in your journey into finding more peace, joy, stability, whatever it may be that you are searching for!
I received my Master's degree in social work primarily focused on macro social work issues, and upon graduating I pursued my clinical license. I love having a background in social work and understanding how systems impacts our lives, both big and small. I am attune to these things when I speak with people, because they matter. Our lives are shaped by our culture, our personal family stories and the choices we've made along the way. Every one is significant.
I have spent the last eight years working in disability services, primarily supporting a team of social workers. I love the aspect of support professionals and remaining connecting to the issues that folks face on the daily. I lead with compassion, strengths-focused, and creative alternatives, but mostly I believe that struggles help us grow and that when we begin to understand what we can learn from them we begin to move through them.
I also have experience working with young college professionals, primarily with a military background. Our veteran community will always be near and dear to my heart. I was a military spouse for many years and our family has lives around the globe. I have been humbled and inspired by the amazing cultures that make this world such a beautiful place. I have three teenagers and love building strong, healthy families. I enjoy talking about the blessings and challenges of long-term partnerships; having been married for over twenty years, and the journey of raising children together.
My approach to mental health stems from methodologies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, while a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach is always a great thread to any self-reflection. I think mindfulness and self-care are wonderful practices that are easy to infuse, but the real winner is finding out what works best for you. What is your inner voice saying it needs from you?
It would by my pleasure to journey alongside you and support you throughout whatever lies ahead. I see myself as a trusted confident and someone who will be honest with you, and compassionate towards you, and your biggest cheerleader!
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, Fertility issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hoarding, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy
MN LICSW 26480