Melanie Cohn-Hopwood (she/her/hers)

As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and having spent my career working with people who are LGBTQIA+ in addition to those living with HIV, this is a passion of mine. I also welcome clients who are exploring or who are in poly and kink relationships. I provide surgery evaluations and letters for those seeking gender affirming surgical procedures, and I also provide counseling to parents, partners, and (adult) children of people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

I was amazed the first time I read about Highly Sensitive People (or HSP's) as I had never seen anything that explained my way of being in the world like this had. I am continuing to develop my skills in the area of working with HSP's, including HSP-specific and self-compassion-based learning.

Whether you're exploring your gender identity or making a career change, aging or managing new health conditions, you are guaranteed to face transitions throughout life. Marriage, graduation, sexuality, relationships, and more. Even what are called "positive" changes are still stressors and can impact our moods and reveal the need for new or different coping mechanisms. Whether the transition is chosen or it chose you, I am here to support you as you journey down a new path.

I see sexuality as being fluid and something that evolves over time. I have experience working with clients in a trauma-informed, affirming environment around issues of sexuality and sexual identity. I embrace members of the poly and kink communities, those exploring sexual orientation or sexual identity, changes in sexual desire and more. I have training in and knowledge of safe and healthy use of items for sexual pleasure.

I am a member of the LGBTQIA+ community have worked in various roles over my adult life including: running a youth group, Board of Directors for an LGBTQ Community Center, HIV education with queer youth and adults, and providing individual therapy to those who identify as LGBTQIA+, their families and loved ones. I love work with partners/spouses/family members of those beginning to explore their gender identity as well as those seeking their own gender affirmation.

As a therapist, I have supported many clients in exploring their gender identity, finding ways to affirm their unique identity and support them through medical gender affirmation if desired. I provide surgical assessments if needed/wanted, support with name changes and other aspects of affirming one's identity. I believe in an informed consent model of care and work to affirm and validate your needs. I have also trained many medical and mental health providers in gender-affirming care.

I am excited to be a participant in the 2023-2024 certificate program in Narrative Therapy through the Narrative Therapy Initiative (NTI)! I have been studying narrative therapy practices and find them to be a gentle and healing practice! As they say in Narrative Therapy, "The person is not the problem. The PROBLEM is the problem." This resonates with my whole-person view of therapy and the systems and environments that impact us, both negatively and positively.