Melanie McKinney

Therapist | Trauma-Informed Care Specialist

My name is Melanie McKinney. I’m a Licensed Master Social Worker and U.S. Air Force veteran with a deep passion for supporting adolescents and adults as they navigate trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional stress.

Before becoming a therapist, I served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, where I had the honor of working with people from many different backgrounds and life experiences. That time shaped how I understand resilience, adaptability, connection, and the unique challenges that military members, veterans, and their families can carry.

My transition into social work came from a desire to create safe, empowering spaces where people can feel supported through difficult seasons. I believe many of the ways we cope, respond, or protect ourselves make more sense when we understand the experiences that shaped them. Therapy gives us space to become curious about those patterns without judgment and begin exploring what still serves us and what may be ready to change.

I believe healing happens when people feel truly seen, respected, and supported while developing a deeper understanding of themselves. My role is not to tell you who you should be, but to walk alongside you as you build greater awareness, strengthen what is already within you, and create meaningful change that feels aligned with the life you want to live.

SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION

Melanie’s Therapy Style

My therapy style is warm, practical, and collaborative. I focus on creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can feel heard, supported, and understood while also having room to explore what may be happening beneath the surface.

I tailor therapy to the person in front of me rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. Some clients need space to process difficult experiences, some need help understanding emotions or patterns, and others may benefit from practical tools they can begin using in everyday life. Often, our work includes a combination of these things.

My approach is integrative and may draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems-informed work, and emotion regulation strategies.

Rather than viewing patterns simply as problems that need to be eliminated, I believe it is important to understand how they developed and what they may have helped you navigate, manage, or survive. From there, we can explore what continues to serve you, what may no longer fit, and what new ways of responding may better support the life you are creating now.

The Bigger Vision

To me, therapy is about more than managing symptoms. It is about helping clients better understand themselves, recognize the strengths they already carry, and develop greater awareness of the experiences, relationships, and patterns that have shaped how they move through the world.

In our work together, we may explore emotional patterns, relationships, communication, coping, and the ways past experiences continue to influence the present. With greater awareness comes the opportunity to respond differently, strengthen self-trust, and make choices with more intention rather than simply reacting from familiar patterns.

My hope is that clients leave our work feeling supported, clearer about their next steps, and increasingly connected to their own strength and resilience. You do not have to have everything figured out before beginning. We can start with where you are and build from there. For more information or to schedule a session, reach put to Melanie at melanie@liveconsciouslypllc.com.com or (254)-320-5330.

Experience & Education

TRAUMA PROFESSIONAL

Who I Support

  • Adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional stress, relationship challenges, life transitions, and difficulty regulating or making sense of their emotions.
  • Veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and individuals navigating transitions related to military service, separation, identity, relationships, or adjustment to civilian life.

Because of my own military background, I bring a personal understanding of the unique stressors that can accompany service, transition, family separation, changing roles, and the process of adjusting between military and civilian life.

I also enjoy helping clients recognize the strengths and resilience they may have developed through difficult experiences while exploring whether some of the ways they learned to cope still support who they are becoming today.

Education & Training

Licensed Master Social Worker, (LMSW)

  • Master’s Degree in Social Work — University of Southern California, 2016
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Counseling

Outside of my work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, traveling, and exploring art and culture. These experiences help me stay connected to the importance of balance, self-care, curiosity, and making room for the parts of life that bring meaning and connection.s.

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