Professional and Educational Background
Melinda Hardin received her education from the University of British Columbia, Western Washington University, and the University of Tennessee. She has post-graduate training in psychodrama, sexual abuse recovery, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Lifspan Integration, stress management, Gestalt, Mindfulness, Thought Field Therapy, and Attachment Focused couple therapy. In addition, Melinda is a chemical dependency counselor with extensive experience in working with all phases of addiction and recovery.
Melinda began her private practice in 1990, specializing in addiction, women’s issues, trauma recovery, relationships, and family issues. She formerly taught Chemical Dependency courses at Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University. She also conducts intensive workshops on Family Reconstruction as well as facilitating coed and women’s therapy groups. Her background also included coordinating the Women’s Program at St. Joseph Hospital Recovery Center, facilitating multidimensional personal growth retreats and workshops, and motivational speaking at seminars and retreats throughout the West Coast region.
Growing out of her years of experience working with individuals who have sustained both physical and psychological trauma, Melinda is consistently expanding her focus on Somatic Experiencing and other body-centered therapies as effective tools for trauma recovery. In addition Melinda supports the use of music, poetry, and the arts as ways to expand one’s understanding of Self. She is especially passionate about Equine Therapy, the method of using of horses therapeutically to help people grow and change. Melinda has a dog named Swallow in the therapy room as an important addition to the therapeutic experience.
Areas of Specialization
Melinda is well known for her warm, engaging way of working with people. Her focus is on the whole person, facilitating the client’s ability to connect to self, relationships, and life. She specializes in dealing with the following types of issues:
- Substance abuse and other addictions
- Anxiety and Depression
- Shame-based identity
- Childhood trauma
- Domestic violence
- Physical Trauma
- Chronic Pain
- Resolving relationship/ family issues
- Grief and loss
- Women’s issues
- Stress management
- Marital conflicts
- Somatic Experiencing
- Conversion Disorder
- Integration of healthy Developmental Stages
Personal Information
Melinda maintains a farm in the county, which houses her horses and pets. She is active in riding and horsepacking in the high country and volunteers extensively for the Back Country Horsemen of Washington. She remains committed to her own growth and to maintaining connections with family and friends around the world.
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