The pains of life can knock you off balance yet pave the way for transformative exploration. Holistic therapy is your safe path for curiosity, vulnerability, and healing. Our work together will leave you more resourced and interconnected.
Personalized, effective therapy intentionally designed to meet you where you are in your story, hardships, and strengths
Holistic Mental Wellness
Individual Therapy
Therapy Might be helpful if you're hoping to:
Build insight into how your past, personal characteristics, and life experiences influence your present choices, feelings, and needs.
Gain useful grounding techniques to soothe your nervous system when everything feels like too much.
Reconnect or explore new experiences, activities, people, and places that are pleasant and bring joy.
Process the grief of losing a loved one to death, separation, or a breakup.
Understand how trauma affects your mind and body and rewire new connections with your environment to feel more regulated and safe.
Communicate and articulate your emotions, needs, and boundaries in your relationships with clarity.
Let go of old patterns, grow emotionally, and improve your relationships with yourself and others.
Adapt to life transitions with patience and confidence.
Optional Modalities and Theories Used In Talk Therapy:
What are the benefits?
Traditional Talk Therapy is what comes to mind for most people when they think of therapy. Talk therapy is a relationship with a trained therapist, who creates a safe, contained space for you to process where you’ve been, where you are, and where you hope to go. In a private, one-on-one setting, we will work to resource you with the necessary tools to better understand and respond to the mental, emotional, and physical needs of your present concerns, and their underlying roots.
What is it?
Traditional Talk Therapy
In Traditional Talk therapy we will work to identify your values, needs, intentions, boundaries and develop coping strategies to help you feel more balanced in day-to-day life. Through this process, you will gain a greater awareness of yourself and your relationships while also connecting the dots from past experiences to present actions. As you experience growth and mental health benefits in therapy, you also may notice a shift in stress levels, sleeping habits, and physical symptoms. These benefits can have a cascading effect on your well-being.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Attachment Theory
- Christian Counseling* (If this is aligns with you)
What are the benefits?
Traumatic and painful experiences have a much larger impact on our physical health than we realize. Somatic Experience (SE™) can help you gain greater insight into how your mind and body are connected to take care of you. This therapeutic approach is focused on restoring your sense of felt safety and presence with yourself and your environment as you find balance in your nervous system. We will collaboratively practice techniques to help you listen and respond to the signals your body is giving you, so you can feel more regulated.
What is it?
Somatic Experiencing™ Therapy
Somatic Experiencing™ can help you move through deep seated struggles. By bringing the body into the conversation, you can begin to notice the ways you have been stuck in chronic stress responses and gently find a path forward. SE™ has been shown to have a positive impact on both individuals with and without trauma by increasing your range of resilience to respond to stress with greater choice, feel more connected and alive in relationships, and experience a sense of ease in your body, emotions and thought patterns. If you have struggled to find relief with traditional talk therapy and you’re curious about the wisdom of your body, this might be a supportive fit.
What are the benefits?
Sometimes the best way to process is by moving. Physical activity plays a big role in the improvement of mental health struggles. Walk and Talk Therapy is a mindfulness-based, body oriented therapy. Before beginning Walk and Talk Therapy, we will meet in-office or virtually for the first session to learn about what brings you to therapy, your hopes for the process, and determine a safe place to walk together. In Walk and Talk therapy, we walk side by side and discuss what comes to mind for you that day, just as if we were sitting inside my office. At times we might take a few moments to stand in silent reflection, take deep breaths, or sit in guided visualization to soothe your nervous system and connect you to the present moment.
What is it?
Walk and Talk Therapy
Walk and Talk therapy is useful for when the therapy office doesn’t feel comfortable. Mindful movement can help expand your ability to relax, slow your thoughts down, breathe with more ease, release physical tension, and deepen mind-body insight. It also enables you to connect to nature, move your body, and take in the fresh air while processing things that might feel heavy.
What are the benefits?
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a well-researched psychotherapy approach. Events from the past can influence how you experience the present. When someone undergoes a trauma, the experience can become stuck in their mind and body as vivid images, thoughts, emotions, negative beliefs, and physical sensations. By using the EMDR eight phase protocol which uses eye movements and guided instructions from your trusted therapist, you can gently tap into sensitive memories to reprocess how you connect to the distressing event. EMDR enables your brain to store the details of the experience in a way that strengthens your adaptive responses and beliefs about yourself.
What is it?
EMDR Therapy
EMDR can be helpful when we don’t have the words to process painful experiences. This type of alternative or complementary approach to talk therapy doesn’t require you to describe the details of the trauma. EMDR helps your whole brain and nervous system naturally move through the healing process, so the traumatic memory holds less intensity and distress in your system. Overall, EMDR is an effective option for addressing trauma, anxiety, self-esteem issues, phobias, grief, loss, relationship issues, and more.
Let’s start off with a 15-minute consultation call to see if we are a fit to work together. You can ask questions and decide if you are ready to jump into your first full session.
How To Get Started!
STEP 1
Whether virtual or in-person, during your first session we will go a little deeper into your current situation and explore what you are hoping to experience through therapy.
STEP 2
In our first few sessions together, we will work to clarify the support you are seeking and establish a plan to move towards long term growth.
STEP 3
First of all, finding the courage to take this initial step and seek support is difficult and shows your resilience. I’m excited to walk alongside you.
When the difficulties of life overwhelm and disconnect us from ourselves and the important people in our life, it is a natural response to reach out for support. I believe an authentic relationship is vital to healing and rebuilding. So, you can expect me to show up as a human first with my therapeutic expertise woven into the safe connection we build together.
With kindness, honesty, and a little humor, I am here to meet you wherever you are on your path. I care deeply about providing you with gentle guidance and a nurturing environment to slowly release some of the pressure you may be carrying. I look forward to guiding you in this inner work to experience yourself whole, rooted, and present in your life.
Lover of walks with friends, pilates, renovating old furniture, and chatting at local coffee shops.
Hey there, I’m Melanie — Your Holistic Therapist!
FAQ
During your 15-minute phone consultation, you can briefly share your reasons for seeking therapy, and I will introduce you to my therapeutic approach. Feel free to bring any questions or concerns you may have. The goal is to see if we are a good fit and to schedule a therapy intake (first session) to begin our work together.
First of all, I am so excited to work with you! After scheduling, you'll receive an email from Simple Practice (sent by me, your therapist) with guidance on how to access your secure client portal. In the portal, you'll find a few documents to fill out before our first session. This allows me to learn more about you and get ready for our initial meeting. You'll also receive a separate email from me, providing directions to the office or details for your upcoming online session.
In our first session, my primary focus is on building a positive, therapeutic connection and getting to know you better. I'm here to listen to your hopes and goals, and learn more about what led you to therapy.
I respect your pace, which means we might not fully dive into all the specific events or the intricacies of your history right away since that might be too overwhelming. You should never feel obligated to share everything immediately; this is a common misconception when starting therapy. Many women I work with assume they're expected to share everything from the start.
We don’t have to dive head first into the deep end of your most tender pain points. I’m willing to bet your interests, hobbies, creative outlets, physical activities, and music playlists have been helpful resources that I would love to learn about and bring into our work together.
My approach is grounded in brain and nervous system science. For that reason, I prioritize nurturing a relationship, as well as tapping into resources and skills that soothe any overwhelm that might show up for you when we get started. This way, when you are ready to process challenging topics in more depth, you can do so in a manner that feels safe and supported.
Yes! You can choose to work with me through virtual appointments exclusively or on weeks when coming to the office is tough. Whatever suits you best! For our online sessions, the only requirement is that you have a private, secure space where you can be engaged in the session and ensure your internet connection is stable.
Telehealth sessions happen on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure privacy.
Since I am a licensed therapist in the state of Tennessee, at this time I am only able to provide virtual sessions if you reside in or will be logging on for a session anywhere in the state of Tennessee.
My office is located at:
5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 1130, Memphis TN, 38157 on the 11th floor in the iBank Tower Building.
The twenty-four story, high rise office building in East Memphis is next to Starbucks, Whole Foods, and the Clark Tower. This is a centrally located office space making it accessible to all clients in the Shelby County area from downtown Memphis to Collierville.
When you book a session, that time is set aside just for you. I understand that things come up, and there might be a week when you can't make your appointment. If you let me know at least 24 hours in advance, there's no charge. For cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, the full session fee applies. Feel free to talk to me if you have any questions about this.
Individual 50 Minute Therapy Session: $150
Individual 90 Minute Therapy Session: $225
Sliding Scale: I only have a few spots available for discounted rates in my schedule and they are limited.
However, if you are hesitant about the rate, don't let this keep you from setting up a consultation call!
The short answer is no. I am considered an out-of-network provider for many PPO health insurances. I can supply you with a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement, and I also accept HSA cards (Health Savings Account). It's a good idea to contact your insurance provider to understand your coverage and reimbursement rates.
It is worth noting that involving insurance might mean an external party has a say in your treatment duration and type. In many cases, insurance requires a mental health diagnosis for reimbursement, which becomes a part of your medical records. Opting to work without insurance offers more privacy and grants you more control over your mental health treatment decisions.
I accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as HSA cards as forms of payment. You will add your card to your portal when you are scheduled for your first session, and I process the charge at the end of each session. If you need to change your card at any point during our work together, just let me know.
By law, healthcare providers must provide clients who don't have insurance or aren't using insurance with a cost estimate for medical services.
You are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate for the expected total cost of services like psychotherapy. If you think you might need this estimate, just ask me before scheduling.
If you receive a bill that's $400 more than the estimate, you can dispute it. For more on your right to an estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 985-635-4040.
These resources may have been a little helpful, but now you might be considering if therapy could be a solution. Although readiness for therapy is different for each person, certain signs could indicate it's time to give it a shot.
- You're feeling stuck and finding it challenging to handle stress in your daily life.
- You're experiencing fatigue, burnout, and find it difficult to experience the joy in life.
- You’re disconnected from emotions, don’t know what you need to care for yourself, and have difficulty setting boundaries in work, life, and relationships.
- You feel like you’re just trying to get through the day.
- You're eager to let go of old patterns, grow emotionally, and break generational cycles.
- You're looking for a safe space where you can feel understood, heard, and uplifted.
Therapy equips you with skills to identify and address triggers, and empowers you to embrace healthy thought patterns, emotions, and interactions for a more fulfilling life.
Enhancing your nervous system's capacity is a gradual process. Since trauma can be defined as "too much, too fast, too soon," healing requires us to honor boundaries and proceed at a gentle pace to effectively address deeper wounds.
If you're seeking a specific therapy "end date," I might not be the best therapeutic fit for you, although I would love to talk this through with you. If you're prepared to fully engage in a transformative journey, and be open to however long it might take, our work together can prompt healing experiences.
Additionally, extended sessions of up to 90 minutes are an option, especially for EMDR sessions, and can facilitate deeper work and potentially expedite the healing process.
Sessions typically occur weekly or bi-weekly, with recommendations tailored to your circumstances and needs following the initial session.
Opting for weekly sessions helps establish comfort and a sense of safety in our therapeutic relationship to foster momentum in your journey. If this frequency isn't feasible for you, we can collaborate to find a schedule that aligns with your needs and goals.
All material provided on this website is for INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is not to be construed as specific medical, nutritional advice, mental health advice, or personal fitness advice for you. I, Melanie Spurgeon, am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Tennessee pursuant to the Tennessee Department of Health but am not your personal clinical social worker until a client service contract is signed and agreed to by you and our company. Please consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your personal fitness, health, mental health, and/or well-being on any opinions expressed within this website. The information provided on this website is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of Melanie Spurgeon and her licensed opinions. Spurgeon Counseling LLC expressly disclaims responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, injury, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of any material provided on this website. You assume all risks associated with use of the information on this website. Any statements or claims on this website about the possible health benefits of foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Disclaimer
COPYRIGHT © 2023 · melanie spurgeon | site credit | TERMS & CONDITIONS | privacy policy