Welcome to the Inner Compass blog, where you’ll find insights, resources, and support for navigating life transitions, religious trauma, and personal growth. Each post is designed to help you gain new perspectives and practical tools for your journey. Explore topics that matter to you and discover ways to align your life with your true values.

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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 […]
Eight tactics, one hub: control In 1993, the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project developed a framework to help survivors and clinicians understand the tactics abusers use to maintain power in intimate relationships. It’s called the Power and Control Wheel, and it has become one of the most widely used tools in domestic violence advocacy. What’s striking […]

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.