Melissa Peddy

I'm a licensed professional counselor who is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I have been licensed by Virginia's Board of Counseling since 2015. I graduated with my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Radford University in 2008, and with my Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Saginaw Valley State University in 2006. I am a Virginia Board of Counseling approved supervisor who has been providing clinical supervision for Residents in Counseling and Qualified Mental Health Professionals since 2017, as well as Peer Recovery Specialists since 2019. My hope to help expand the number of insightful and competent professionals in our rural area of Southwest Virginia. In my professional life, I have treated children, adolescents, and adults struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction. My approach to counseling is person-centered, which means that I believe that the individual knows what is best for them and they can direct their own individualized path to recovery, as well as what that recovery looks like for them. When someone comes to treatment, I offer information about treatment techniques, as well as a choice of treatment. I believe that everyone has their own definition of healthy, however healthy is not a destination. Healthy is a practice, much like mindfulness is a practice. I believe that small daily healthy tasks or habits can lead to powerful changes in someone's life. For me, those small changes included drinking enough water every day, adding consistent exercise through running, spending time outdoors, and reading regularly. Small, but powerful, changes look different for everyone.