Pamela Mello

read moreClients who seek my help as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) come with virtually any topic of concern. Each person's needs are unique, and I try to find what works best for each individual client. In providing individual, couples and family counseling, I work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing services that span from therapy and support. In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of my clients individual needs to help attain the personal growth they're striving for.

read moreAll of us get angry from time to time -- it's a normal human emotion. But frequent, excessive, or misdirected anger can harm relationships with others. It can also negatively impact performance in all areas of your life. If your answer to any of the above questions is "yes", you may want to consider working with a therapist to develop better methods of managing anger. The main tool for anger management is learning "time-outs" -- when you take a break from the situation to be able to cool down and come back to it later.

read moreIf you are "in transition", you may be experiencing depression or anxiety. You may have feelings of loss or grief. You may feel that you're floundering in a sea of choices -- or that you have no choices. Often, being reassured by a trained professional that what you are experiencing is normal, is validating in and of itself. While any depression, anxiety, or grief certainly has to be addressed, I also find this is an opportune time to look at goals and choices, and help clients discover the values that can propel them forward in a direction that is uniquely theirs.

read moreHow do I know if I need therapy? Most people will benefit from therapy. Therapy (or counseling) is sought for numerous reasons: an immediate problem, personal self-exploration, or a response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce or work transition. And these days, stress is usually a huge component of why people are seeking help. If you are bothered by problems with emotions or negative behaviors, if your ability to work, to love, or to live is being negatively affected, then you may benefit from mental health intervention.

read moreAnxiety is a signal generated by our mind and body that danger (either real or perceived) is near. About 5% of Americans experience severe anxiety at one time or another in their lives. Anxiety can run in families, or it can be associated with a specific situation and be temporary in nature. From time to time, we all worry about things that are important to us. But sometimes, the resolution of the problem does not end our mental and emotional distress. Fear can become the focal point of daily life and even disrupt our ability to function.

read moreAn unfortunate side effect of our society's obsession with "beauty" and "thinness" has been an increase in eating disorders. And it's not just girls and young women. I've treated women in their 50's, and men and young boys are a quickly rising segment of the population struggling with eating disorders. With anorexia nervosa, dieting, vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, and over-exercise may be used to continually lose weight -- ultimately to the point of starvation and even death. Anorexia is the most life-threatening of the eating disorders.