Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Griffing.
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Becoming a counselor was quite a journey for me. In college, I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but I wasn’t quite sure. I have always had an interest in people and why people do the things they do. I have also always enjoyed working with kids. Even as a kid myself, I showed interest in parenting. So, I decided to double major in Psychology and Elementary Education, and naturally, after college, I got my first job as a teacher. It was no more than 3 months into the school year that I was questioning if I had made the right choice. I absolutely loved working with the kids, but I absolutely hated the teaching part of the job. I was far more interested in how the students were feeling and interacting with each other. After that first year of teaching, I made a career change. I went back to school to get my master’s in Counseling and have never looked back. I love every minute of what I do. Since then, I have worked in various practices and mental health settings, trying to find my niche and passions in the world of mental health. I’ve worked in different private practices, schools, and psychological hospitals. I found that my biggest passion was working with families through play therapy and parent coaching. Parent coaching is one of the areas I am most passionate about. I believe that we parent in response to how we were parented. If you like what you experienced, you repeat it. If you don’t, you try to change it. My hope is that if I can positively change parenting techniques then potentially, I could positively affect generations to come, making our world a little kinder in the process.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We all face challenges getting to where we are. My challenges involved family life. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I also knew I wanted to have a successful career. At the end of my master’s program, I became pregnant with my first child. The most challenging part of my journey has been learning how to balance my personal and professional life. Learning that it’s okay to step back from one when the other needs more of me. I have been finding my way that works for me because there is no one right way to accomplish goals. I am learning that it is possible to be both a successful businesswoman as well as a mom.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WellNest Counseling has a specific vision to meet the therapeutic needs of families in DFW. We take on a slightly different approach to therapy which stems from our unique values. We value family relationships, inclusivity, simplicity, and joy. We are all therapists that specialize in working with children, parents, and the family as a whole unit. When we work with a child, we strongly believe we must be simultaneously supporting the parents as well. For this reason, parents will receive support alongside their child’s therapeutic journey through parent consultations, parent coaching, family sessions, or even their own individual therapy. We see kids struggling with behavior concerns, depression, anxiety, ADHD, identity issues, adjustment, and social-emotional learning. We guide parents seeking to improve their parent/child relationship as well as their selves through parent coaching and individual therapy. We help emerging adults step into adulthood with the best foot forward. We see moms and dads-to-be who are struggling with the adjustment into parenthood. We support moms who are battling perinatal mental health disorders. We aim to provide tailored and individual support for each family and its unique needs.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Honestly, the best thing I have done for networking is sending emails to other business that are similar or related to mine and request a meeting. I have found that people are more likely to refer to people they know and trust. So, if I can get an in-person meeting with someone, from there, I can establish and develop a trusted relationship. In my initial email, I explain who I am, what I do, and leave my contact information; that way, if they don’t get back to me, I know they at least have my contact and know a little about me. I also follow up every three months or so just to be thorough. As far as a finding a mentor, my advice is to search for someone who wants to invest in you, who really believes in you and sees your potential. I was incredibly lucky to stumble on to my mentor. She saw my potential, invested in me, and really took the time to teach me and help shape me into the Counselor I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wellnestcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnestcounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnestcounseling
Image Credits
Capri Gaston Photography
