Melodee (Odee) Benson

More About Melodee (Odee) Benson

Clinical Interests:

I have previously worked as a Co-Occurring Alcohol and Drug Counselor for many years. I have also worked on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, working with clients experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. I currently enjoy working with individuals experiencing various concerns affecting their lives. Some of the more common diagnoses I have worked with include major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. I work with a variety of demographics (i.e. age, race, gender, religion) but have found interest in working with victims of violence, those experiencing increased crises, and those who have been affected by incarceration.

Clinical Approach:

I am an Adlerian Therapist at heart. As an Adlerian, I believe that what happens in childhood matters, but how we perceive those memories matters even more and it is these beliefs, both healthy and unhealthy, that are affecting individual’s current style of life. I believe the key to success in therapy is a strong therapeutic relationship between myself and my clients and therapeutic goals are collaboratively decided upon and attained. To reach those goals, I utilize Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, and many trauma-informed approaches (ART, Somatic, Narrative). My goal with working with clients is to meet them where they are, help them understand their unique needs and qualities, incorporate skills and techniques that will benefit them, and encourage daily use of those skills for a better quality of life.

Hobbies:

I enjoy spending time with my Shih Tzu dogs (Hope and Tucker) and raising babies together. I love the outdoors; gardening, going to my cabin, hiking, fishing, traveling, and soaking up the sunshine (and the rain). I love crafts and do them all the time; painting, drawing, oil pastels, crocheting, beading, and macrame.