Melanie Turner, CSW | Humanistic Therapist

Hello and welcome, my name is Melanie (she/her/hers)!

My number one goal, since as early as I can remember, has been to help others

I identify as a neurodiverse, demisexual, white, anti-racist, pro-choice, LGBTQQIAAP+ affirming, fat liberating, sex-positive, and able-bodied cis-woman as well as an advocate, ally, peer, mentor, dog and cat mom, big sister, daughter, cousin, niece, granddaughter, fiancė, and friend.

I am Type #8 (Enneagram), an ENFP (Myers-Briggs), and a Capricorn Sun, Virgo Rising, and Gemini Moon. I was born and raised in Garner, North Carolina, and I spent my springs and summers on Ocracoke Island (OBX), NC, and my falls and winters in the Appalachian Mountains until I moved to Utah in 2021.

I am currently accepting new adolescent, young adult, and adult telehealth clients in North Carolina and Utah.

My love of family, friends, community, and animals (especially my dogs, Lennon and Mojo, and my cat, Ringo) keeps me motivated and passionate throughout the ups and downs life throws my way. I love traveling and exploring, but I am just as content spending time in my local community and at home with my pets and loved ones watching a movie or (especially) napping! The ocean, sunsets, Winnie the Pooh, sappy quotes, The Beatles, and group pictures are a few things that feed my soul and remind me how grateful I am to be alive (:

While some choose to believe that ignorance is bliss, I choose to embrace the idea that wisdom and peace can only come with experience, both the good and the bad.

I am a client-centered, holistic, integrative, systemic, and mindfulness-based Social Worker who utilizes self and social/community empowerment to inspire intersectional healing and alignment. I have extensive personal and professional experience related to depression and anxiety, ADHD, LGBTQQIAAP+, multicultural matters, social activism and allyship, complex trauma and PTSD, grief, and loss, and domestic and interpersonal violence.

I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 2021 from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina with a cross-concentration between macro social work within communities and organizations and clinical social work, focusing on individuals and families. I utilize and practice empowering, empathetic communication with strengths-based and client-centered interviewing approaches - and I incorporate holistic, evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as mindfulness and mindful movement, psychodynamic therapy (CBT/DBT), interpersonal therapy, art and play therapy, relational therapy, expressive therapy, and integrative therapy into client treatment goals, plans, and sessions. I work alongside clients throughout the creation and implementation of personalized treatment plans that offer structured interventions and assist to create a greater sense of self-love and acceptance, helping to promote both immediate and long-term relief and change.

“Though I was not proud of what I had learned, I never doubted that it was worth knowing”
-Hunter S. Thompson-

Through a fast introduction to harsh realities at a very young age, I discovered desires to not only ease the pain of those around me but also to confront any injustice or corruption that contributed to their, or my, pain and suffering. In my early youth I began to witness and understand how the mental health and criminal justice systems, alongside many others, fail numerous young, innocent victims -myself included- every single day by neglecting their responsibilities and obligations to provide protection, support, and safety when necessary. It was this negligence and failure on the part of the governmental, mental health, and social agencies in place to serve and protect the most helpless members of our society which have driven me over the past decade to dedicate my life to listening to, caring for, and protecting ALL people. 

Where individuals in need were previously neglected support, healing, and connection, I hope to find myself filling those gaps. Throughout my life following these events I have found myself personally driven by providing persistent understanding, patient empathy, and unwavering compassion to those around me in their times of need. I thrive and pride myself on being a dependable and organized peer, mentor, and companion. 

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." 

- Winnie the Pooh -

I truly believe that through vulnerability, intentionality, emotional connection and intelligence, fostering and empowering resilience, community, spirituality, healthy relationships, source knowledge, alignment, and self-love we can all find our own paths back to our truest and most genuine selves ~ and I would be honored to have the opportunity to join alongside you on your journey as soon as you are ready.