

With over 35 years in healthcare, my professional path has been rooted in on central thread: walking alongside individuals during meaningful, often vulnerable moments. My early career as a nurse practitioner and midwife allowed me to support women’s and families through birth, transition, change and even death - experiences that deeply shaped my understand of emotional resilience, attachment, and human connection.
In the past four years, I have expanded this foundation into psychotherapy as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Today, I bring both advanced clinical training and lived experience into my work, offering thoughtful, relational and insight-driven care. I value environments that are collaborative, integrative, and grounded in human connection.
I have been a therapist since 2002. I believe in a laid back, and open "fire side" chat format to counseling. I started my career in a Christian Counseling setting with adolescents and families which progressed over to couples and eventually crossing to the LGBTQ and alternative lifestyles such as kink aware. I hold a Masters in Counseling Education from the UCF. I have learned over the years not to take myself too seriously and one should always be open and ready to adjust to change and growth.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree specializing in trauma-informed care and holistic emotional wellness. With over fifteen years of experience in medical and mental health settings, I have worked with individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and relationship challenges. My counseling approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic practices with Christian principles to support healing of the mind, body, and spirit. I am passionate about creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow in both emotional wellness and spiritual strength. My goal is to help clients develop practical coping strategies, deepen their faith, and move toward lasting healing, purpose, and restoration.
I discovered my mission when I realized how powerful and beautiful love is. I got my Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Health Administration at Florida Atlantic University and proceeded to receive my Master's degree at the University of Central Florida in Marriage, Couples, and Family counseling. My mission is helping others to rediscover who they are and teach them to be secure within themselves so that they can be secure in the relationships they have with others.
Plans change, people change and there are several life transitions that we all experience; however, we often find it challenging to accommodate these inevitable shifts. We also think that we are equipped to tackle all these changes on our own, when that is not reality! Despite the difficulties that we all experience - you are not alone.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melanie D’Souza, LMHC with six years of experience helping adults work through depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction. I am also trained in EMDR, an evidenced-based approach that can help process and heal from past experiences that continue to affect the present.


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