Melissa Cantwell Disclosure Statement

When considering your mental health, I believe it is possible to heal, cope and create emotional well-being with the support of healthy human connection. Your mental health matters, no matter your age, situation or circumstances.  

I’m a student intern working on my certification as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor through Antioch University.  This is a second career for me.  I have spent the last 18 years in the world of public education with a Master of Science in Special Education.  The majority of my career has been spent supporting families and their children through the education system with the resources they need to succeed. I spent 10 years as a special education teacher working with the autistic community, 5 years working with a variety of students as a learning support teacher and the last part of my career as a behavior specialist for the district.  I have worked with children ages 3-21 with a wide variety of disabilities such as autism, ADHD, visual impairments, dyslexia, communication disorders, anxiety, depression, and more.  I found that my true passion is working on the emotional, social, and self aspects of life with children and their families.  This has led me to my second career.  I look forward to helping children, teens, adults, and families with finding their inner strength and emotional well-being.   

My focus throughout my graduate program has been trauma and I enjoy that work.  I gravitate towards a diverse approach to counseling and will always collaborate with the family or individual based on their needs.  The journey of healing and emotional well-being is a personal voyage, so flexibility in methods and theory is important based on the client’s needs.  I have been trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, crisis counseling, and trauma-informed care.  My purpose is to support my clients with their personal goals and be the supportive connection they need to make the journey a little easier. 

Children, Teens, ADHD, codependency, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, Autism, communication, life transitions, trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders.

Areas of Specialty: