Community Highlights: Meet Melissa Lopez of Counseling For All Seasons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Lopez.

Hi Melissa , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Back when I was first interviewed for this in 2017, I went into greater detail about this so I’ll keep this short. Basically in 2009 I lost a job I had at a non profit due to funding cuts.
Various colleagues encouraged me to open a private practice, I was super hesitant because, TBH. I always saw private practice as working solely with very privileged white people and that wasn’t what I wanted to be doing with my career.
While I was looking for another agency position I decided to take on a few clients a colleague referred to me and I realized how great the need was for therapists like me, not white, not straight and not your typical stereotype of a “therapist.” I mean back then even a therapist showing their tattoos was still taboo.
The clients that were reaching out to me all shared the same problem – having share time finding a BIPOC therapist, or an openly Queer therapist. This was back in 2010 – now you see more therapists being open about their various identities but back then it wasn’t the case. For many clients, they felt they wanted to find someone to work with that had some common identities with. So in November of 2010 I opened my own practice with an office in Pasadena, since Covid I moved my entire practice to telehealth and gave up the physical office. This allows for more accessibility and for clients from all over California to be able to connect with me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
To be honest, yes it’s been hard. I didn’t grow up with any generational wealth so just taking the step to have a private practice was a HUGE risk as it doesn’t guarantee you a pay check. I also don’t have any family I could depend on if I needed financial help so it was scary- in a world where we have to live within capitalism it was a risk.
There have been some hard moments since – for example when Covid hit, due to the economic impact that had on many people, having a stable income was hit and miss.
In the last couple years I think some of the harder moments are the consistent targeting I experience especially from fellow therapists because of my being very vocal about my anti colonial stance, being Pro Palestine, and being critical of colleagues who remain silent on Palestine but also other oppressions. I don’t think a week goes by where I got get a dm or email that is filled with criticism- it was intense during the first months of the genocide in Palestine. And it’s not just fellow mental health therapists that share their disapproval, because of my Instagram presence people from all other expressed their anger at me, I was even dozed twice and had my license threatened.
I’ve received similar hate from staunch supports of the Democratic Party as am critical of all political parties that uphold colonial white supremacist policies/ideals. But for me it’s important to be true to my beliefs- I can’t claim to care about trauma and reinforce the systems responsible for creating and maintaining trauma. Period.

But we much as there is hate there is also a lot of love from people who do support and have similar stances. It’s what continues to draw clients to want to work with me.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a mental health therapist and I provide individual and couples therapy via telehealth to people residing in California. My educational background is as a clinical social worker, and I have over 20 years experience.

My specializations include trauma, grief and addressing the manners that colonial oppressive structures that we are forced to live in impact our mental health.

Am no so interested in “what sets me apart?” Honestly – there are not enough mental health therapists to fill the need for mental health care in the United States- I think if people want to work with me it’s more about “fit” than what sets me apart. At the end of the day – regardless of treatment modality- the most important part of treatment is the working relationship.
And I am hoping for more therapists to approach the work from anti colonial oppressive manners – there are a lot more now- but not enough.

If people want to work with me, the most important thing to know is that I am grounded – intentionally – in anti colonial, anti white supremacist approaches which often includes pushing back against “traditional” Western Psychology.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
For me, it’s speaking my truth – as a Fat, Disabled, Queer, Latine Femme who provides therapy – I have to be honest about who I am which includes my identities and politics.
Noting will change in any field without intentionally refusing what is taught to us as “norms.” On my forearm I have a tattoo with the words “Your silence will not protect you.” Words from Audre Lorde. I know this to be true- when I’ve worked at agencies or institutions my voice has always gotten me in some type of “trouble” with higher ups- but I refuse to perform the role of “psychotherapist,” at the end of the day, it’s just a job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.counseling4allseasons.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counseling4allseasons/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/counseling4allseasons?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr