Melanie Skyler, LMSW

she/her/hers

People come to therapy for as many different reasons as you could imagine. You might already know exactly why you’re here. Or maybe it isn’t so clear what is wrong. Maybe it feels like nothing is ever enough. Or you’re tired, in pain, lost and you can’t stand it anymore. If you’ve found your way to this page, that’s really great. It shows hope, strength, and curiosity.

There are many different types of effective treatments and excellent therapists. It’s good to take the time to research what sounds appealing and helpful to you. It’s also normal to not know and just give someone a shot! In my work I focus on supporting you to gain new insights into yourself- your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, needs, wants, personality, identity and the experiences that have impacted you. My hope is to give you a place to be fully yourself and safe to do the work of healing.

I consider the fascinating science behind mental health and psychotherapy to guide treatment. This includes how the brain and nervous system develop and are shaped by experience, and how therapy and other experiences can measurably change the brain. We can nerd out if that interests you.

Finally, I carefully consider issues of social justice present in our society and culture, and invite discussion of identity. Part of my personal and professional work includes examining my own identities, including the privileged status or unearned advantages I’ve received from being a white citizen, and some disadvantages I’ve had, including growing up poor and being female.

I have helped clients with anxiety and depression, relationship issues, anger and aggression, and military-service and veteran specific issues.

I chose this career path because of the impact my relationships with my own therapists have had on my life. Sitting with them every week helped me face my demons and sadness and find relief. It made a lot of sense to me when I heard, “We are broken in relationships and we are healed in relationships.” We are in a very real way in need of connections and support from other people, it’s in our D.N.A. Through my own life experiences and my studies I’ve come to know that our human life has darkness and pain, but I believe it in my mind and in my heart that hope and healing is possible for all wounds.

I earned my BA from Smith, a seven sisters college, where I studied Comparative Religion and Philosophy. My master’s degree is in clinical social work from UT Austin. My list of favorite things would have to be: my loved ones, learning things, Hip Hop music, dark comedies, Krav Maga, dance and my bearded dragon.

It’s been demonstrated time and time again that the most significant factor for a client to feel better through therapy is mostly about their relationship with the therapist. As a client we need to feel like our therapist can really listen to us, understand us, and show us care, help us help ourselves, handle absolutely anything we bring. I am happy to meet with you and I can also help you connect with another therapist that might be more of a good match for you!