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Most of us learned about the body’s stress responses in one simple phrase: fight, flight, or freeze. But there’s a fourth response — one that rarely gets taught, even though it may be the most common one in people who grew up managing chaos, criticism, or unpredictability at home. It’s called fawning, and it doesn’t […]

Therapist in a business suit holding an EMDR tactile tool in a private therapy office

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A clinician’s guide to the terms we use — and why they matter. From a religious trauma therapist Gilbert AZ. As religious trauma therapists in Gilbert, Arizona, we hear these words used interchangeably almost every week: religion, spirituality, cult, abuse, trauma. And almost every week, we watch a client’s shoulders drop a little when we […]

Four overlapping circles labeled Religion, Spirituality, Cults, and Trauma, representing the related but distinct concepts explained in this guide to religious trauma terminology.

Mellissa grew up in Southern California in a large family, heavily involved in high control conservative religion. She went on to attend college at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she studied sociology and family studies. She then spent 10 years as a stay at home parent. Life pivoted for Mellissa when she experienced a divorce and faith transition and began her own work in therapy.

She spent 5 years as an educator while obtaining her masters degree in professional counseling. She has spent the last 4 years specializing her practice to help others going through major unexpected life transitions, finding healing in the present moment and creating futures that align with their core values. Mellissa’s personal experiences, combined with her specialized expertise and focused study, create a uniquely supportive and effective clinical practice for individuals navigating major life transitions.

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