Melanie Vause, MSW, LSW
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Master of Social Work
Licensed Social Worker To make an appointment with Melanie, please call 630-570-0050. You can also email [email protected].
Specializes In:Anxiety, Depression, Social Anxiety, Worry/Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Trauma, Adjustment/Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, LGBTQIA+ Support, Relationship Concerns, Caregiver Support, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders
Ages Served: 10+ Adolescents/Teens, Adults, Older Adults |
Professional Experience
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Appalachian State University. While at Appalachian State, I specialized my studies in human services, receiving education tailored to working with people of all backgrounds and needs. I received my Master of Social Work degree from Simmons University in Boston, where I also received a certificate in trauma practice. While pursuing my MSW, I interned at a group home for LGBTQ+ adolescents in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. In this setting, I facilitated individual and group therapy, engaged in various crisis intervention and harm reduction approaches, and supported transgender youth in their gender-affirming care journeys.
Specializations and Treatment Approach
I currently treat:
Worry/Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Trauma
Self-Esteem
LGBTQIA+
Depression
Social Anxiety
Relationship Concerns
Caregiver Support
ADHD
Adjustment and Chronic Stress
Autism Spectrum Disorders
I love supporting clients through journeys of self-discovery of all kinds, and I am passionate about the support I provide. I am working towards specializations in depression, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (worry), Trauma, Adjustment/Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, LGBTQIA+ Support, Relationship Concerns, Caregiver Support, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. I work with adolescents and adults. I have spent most of my professional career thus far specializing in supporting adolescents who hold marginalized sexual and/or gender identities and I find great joy and purpose in doing so.
I utilize approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. However, I believe that the most important thing in therapy is the relationship between a therapist and client, and I make sure this is a priority throughout treatment.
Although it doesn’t have to be, therapy can be a scary thing, especially if it’s your first time. I will give you space to share with me if you ever feel like your experience of therapy isn’t fitting your needs, and I will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your treatment feels helpful and affirming.
Worry/Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Trauma
Self-Esteem
LGBTQIA+
Depression
Social Anxiety
Relationship Concerns
Caregiver Support
ADHD
Adjustment and Chronic Stress
Autism Spectrum Disorders
I love supporting clients through journeys of self-discovery of all kinds, and I am passionate about the support I provide. I am working towards specializations in depression, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (worry), Trauma, Adjustment/Life Transitions, Self-Esteem, LGBTQIA+ Support, Relationship Concerns, Caregiver Support, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. I work with adolescents and adults. I have spent most of my professional career thus far specializing in supporting adolescents who hold marginalized sexual and/or gender identities and I find great joy and purpose in doing so.
I utilize approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. However, I believe that the most important thing in therapy is the relationship between a therapist and client, and I make sure this is a priority throughout treatment.
Although it doesn’t have to be, therapy can be a scary thing, especially if it’s your first time. I will give you space to share with me if you ever feel like your experience of therapy isn’t fitting your needs, and I will work collaboratively with you to ensure that your treatment feels helpful and affirming.
About Me
What are your professional and personal values?
Authenticity is what always comes to mind first when I think about what values are important to me. As someone who is part of and works with the LGBTQ+ community, finding spaces in which we are comfortable to express ourselves, share our feelings, and more is crucial for building community and facilitating growth and healing. Additionally, honesty, kindness, and compassion are paramount in all of my relationships. The world can be a scary place, and treating others with honesty, kindness, and compassion can make all the difference.
What are some adjectives you would use to describe yourself and why?
I would describe myself as very introspective, thoughtful, gentle, and compassionate. I’ve always been one to engage in deep, thought-provoking conversations with others, and this is part of why I love being a therapist so much. However, don’t get me wrong - I use humor quite a bit as well to break up the seriousness!
What are some of your favorite self care activities?
I love spending my free time crocheting, playing video games, or watching YouTube videos. I also love snuggling with my cat Rosemary on the couch while doing these things. Additionally, I love spending time with my sister and her pets.
What is your favorite quote?
One of my favorite quotes is “Healing isn’t linear”. I’m unsure who first shared this, but I love this quote because it serves as a reminder that life will always have its ups and downs, and all of it is part of the healing process. When we experience those “down” moments, we might be inclined to feel as if these are setbacks, but this quote demonstrates that healing takes time, and just because we feel down doesn’t mean that we aren’t still making progress.
What led you to decide to you wanted to be a therapist?
Understanding how people make sense of the world around them in the face of incredible difficulties has always been interesting to me, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to support people
through these experiences. The idea and practice of being a therapist has also always just felt “right” to me; I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Why do you love being a mental health professional?
One of the things I value most about being a mental health professional is getting to support clients through their journeys of healing and self-discovery. Especially in working with adolescents and young adults, I so frequently see my clients experience things that drastically shape the way they view themselves and the world around them, and it’s such an honor to be able to support them through this.
Authenticity is what always comes to mind first when I think about what values are important to me. As someone who is part of and works with the LGBTQ+ community, finding spaces in which we are comfortable to express ourselves, share our feelings, and more is crucial for building community and facilitating growth and healing. Additionally, honesty, kindness, and compassion are paramount in all of my relationships. The world can be a scary place, and treating others with honesty, kindness, and compassion can make all the difference.
What are some adjectives you would use to describe yourself and why?
I would describe myself as very introspective, thoughtful, gentle, and compassionate. I’ve always been one to engage in deep, thought-provoking conversations with others, and this is part of why I love being a therapist so much. However, don’t get me wrong - I use humor quite a bit as well to break up the seriousness!
What are some of your favorite self care activities?
I love spending my free time crocheting, playing video games, or watching YouTube videos. I also love snuggling with my cat Rosemary on the couch while doing these things. Additionally, I love spending time with my sister and her pets.
What is your favorite quote?
One of my favorite quotes is “Healing isn’t linear”. I’m unsure who first shared this, but I love this quote because it serves as a reminder that life will always have its ups and downs, and all of it is part of the healing process. When we experience those “down” moments, we might be inclined to feel as if these are setbacks, but this quote demonstrates that healing takes time, and just because we feel down doesn’t mean that we aren’t still making progress.
What led you to decide to you wanted to be a therapist?
Understanding how people make sense of the world around them in the face of incredible difficulties has always been interesting to me, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to support people
through these experiences. The idea and practice of being a therapist has also always just felt “right” to me; I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Why do you love being a mental health professional?
One of the things I value most about being a mental health professional is getting to support clients through their journeys of healing and self-discovery. Especially in working with adolescents and young adults, I so frequently see my clients experience things that drastically shape the way they view themselves and the world around them, and it’s such an honor to be able to support them through this.
Melanie's Blogs:
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Finding a therapist who is well-informed about gender, gender-affirming care, and the infinite varieties in gender experience and expression can be difficult. Progress has been made over the years in terms of education about and acceptance of transgender (trans) and gender non-conforming people. However, it can still be daunting to find a therapist who you can feel safe with being honest about your gender. And, even when you are able to find a therapist that you might feel safe with as a trans or gender non/conforming person, not knowing what to expect in therapy with a gender-affirming therapist may be scary. My hope through this blog post is to explain some of the things you may see in your work with a gender-affirming therapist, and share a little bit about the way that I practice as one of these therapists...(to read more, click on the link above).
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