Melonye Cleveland, MA

I’m passionate about helping individuals of all ages navigate life’s challenges, whether you’re a child, teen, young adult, or adult. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where you can feel understood and empowered to make positive changes. Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, ADHD, relationship struggles, or emotional difficulties related to life transitions, I am here to help you build the tools needed to feel more in control and resilient.

For adults, especially young adults (18-35), I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you reframe negative thoughts, manage emotions, and strengthen your coping skills. I also incorporate a person-centered approach, which means I focus on creating a non-judgmental, empathetic environment where you feel truly heard and valued. This approach supports your unique journey and emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and empowerment, allowing you to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and clarity.

Additionally, I have extensive experience working with children, teens, and families, offering support for issues like childhood trauma, behavioral struggles, and neurodivergence. For children, I incorporate play therapy as a key part of the therapeutic process. Through play, children are able to express their feelings and process difficult emotions in a way that feels natural and engaging. Play therapy helps young clients build emotional resilience, communicate more effectively, and gain a better understanding of themselves and their experiences.

With a background that includes supporting vulnerable populations, such as my time as a housing coordinator and social worker for the homeless in Washington, D.C., and as a residential coach for young girls in North Carolina, I bring a unique perspective to my practice. These experiences have strengthened my ability to provide compassionate, effective care to clients facing a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges.

Whether you’re a young person struggling to adjust, an adult navigating a life change, or a family in need of support, I am here to help you create meaningful change. Together, we can work on practical skills to help you move forward with confidence and build a stronger, healthier future.

MORE ABOUT ME:

• I’m originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina but live in Washington, D.C.
• In my free time, I enjoy workout classes (Orangetheory and Pure Barre are my favorite!), cooking, gardening, and watching the Food Network.
• I have a rescue mutt named Luna.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minor in Women’s Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South
• Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)

SUPERVISED BY:

Jennifer Munroe, LPC, NCC

CREDENTIALS:

Resident in Counseling

PRELICENSE:

VA 0704014353