About
Sheyda Mia Melkonian,
Psy.D., PMH-C
My approach in working with clients is ultimately strength based. My theory is that nobody knows what it feels like to be you better than you. Based on this belief, I feel that you are the only person that has the power to change things in your life. As a therapist, I feel that my role is to guide you in that journey, to sit with you during the difficult times, and to notice and inquire about some things which may be easier to see from the outside.
Every person has strengths which have helped them get through life. One of my roles is to help my clients identify their own personal strengths and to help them continue building on these assets. I feel that it is important to talk about and process events and experiences from your past that have shaped you into the person that you are today. However, I try to challenge my clients to move past these experiences and to use the emotions attached to them as a driving force to make positive changes and achieve their goals.
Experience
I've had experience working with adults, adolescents, children, and families during various times of my life. I started my career providing behavioral therapy to children with autism during my time at U.C. Irvine. Once I started my doctoral program, I began working at Los Angeles Valley College providing learning disability assessments to the students there. I got introduced to clinical therapy during my practicum at San Fernando High School where I provided therapy to the students enrolled in the school. After this experience, I quickly learned how much I loved therapy and eagerly jumped into my internships at community clinics in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita. After completing the requirements for my doctorate, I worked as a staff therapist at the Child & Family Center in Santa Clarita and later obtained a faculty position at Los Angeles Valley College as a Learning Disability Specialist. In 2008, I began my practice and have since been blessed with the privilege of being allowed into your personal lives and helping you achieve the positive changes that you deserve.
Qualifications
For a more detailed account of my qualifications, please review my curriculum vitae.