MELANIE ADAMS, MS, PhD, MFTC
My Journey To Becoming A Relational Therapist
Working for a transformative mindfulness program at Stanford University sparked my interest in becoming a therapist. This experience opened my eyes to the power of reflecting on our inner world with compassion and engaging with others in a truly present way. I was inspired to seek both clinical and research degrees to explore how psychotherapy can empower us to not only cope with adversity but also thrive.
My decision to become a therapist was no surprise to my loved ones. As a child, I was drawn to supporting others to feel seen and valued and to find common understanding with each other. I wanted to ensure those around me felt they belonged.
As a member of a stigmatized group, I became attuned to how easily we can judge others based on limited information, and how easily we internalize judgment of ourselves. Throughout my teenage years, I felt compassion for others that I could not yet conjure for myself. And as I learned to extend compassion to myself, my empathy for others deepened even further.
Empathy is the foundation of how I view my role as a therapist with a strong duty of care and a deep sense of respect for my clients. Building a safe, trusting relationship is the heart of therapeutic work. You deserve a therapist who meets you and your story without judgment and, instead, brings in a firm grasp of our shared humanity.
Offering You Personalized Support On Your Journey
Today, I work with couples, families, teens, and adults recovering from trauma. In my practice, I engage with curiosity, creativity, and warmth, fostering a safe space and providing personalized support for clients to share their story.
I believe you are the expert of your experience, and together, we create conditions that catalyze transformation. And I am honored to join you on a journey of self-discovery.
Empowering Couples to Thrive
Long before my formal training as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), I was fascinated by relationship dynamics—how even deeply loving partners can quickly get stuck in painful dynamics that take on a life of their own, and how shifts in perspective can open the door to reconnection. Now, I’ve stocked my therapist toolbox with methods designed to address these dynamics. I’ve pursued extensive training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based method that helps couples find relief from stuck patterns while fostering closeness.
EFT is more than a conversation engaging our minds; it is an experience engaging our hearts, allowing couples to change the way they connect. By integrating EFT and techniques drawn from the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy, I help couples learn to manage conflict and introduce new ways to relate to each other, build secure bonds, and foster shared feelings of ease, trust, and joy.
Through collaborative effort, my clients start to leave sessions with a felt sense of increased connection and change—concrete experiences that affirm their capacity to create new, more secure ways of relating at home.
Helping Families Navigate Challenges
Family dynamics can challenge us. They may shift in unexpected ways as family members transition through different life stages. When families grapple with enduring distress, distance, and conflict, therapy can offer a path forward.
My approach to working with families is rooted in attachment theory, utilizing modalities such as Emotionally Focused Family Therapy. My aim is to help families cultivate strong bonds rooted in shared vulnerability and trust, enabling them to meet the challenges of life together.
With my support, families can shift from seeing one another as adversaries to becoming allies—working together to overcome rough patches with empathy, kindness, and respect. Additionally, family therapy that helps to nurture supportive student-parent-child dynamics and promote healing and connection can be an important complement to individual therapy.
Guiding Teens and Young Adults
In my work with teens and college-aged young adults, I provide support with navigating the daily pressures of school, social expectations, and identity formation.
Many young people struggle with issues such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, procrastination, and anxiety. Therapy presents an opportunity to build a stronger sense of self and confidence, helping teens and young adults grow into resilient individuals and form healthy relationships with themselves and others.
As a therapist, I use mindfulness practices, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and attachment-oriented approaches to create a space where young people can explore their emotions, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, and develop practical tools for coping. I have also facilitated research-backed programs including Learning to BREATHE, a mindfulness curriculum to enhance emotional regulation and executive functioning in the face of stress, and The Blues Program, a cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at reducing early symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Supporting Adults Through Trauma Recovery
I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of survivors of trauma, being at their side as a therapist while they explore the impact of trauma on their lives and begin to shift how they relate to the emotions surrounding their experiences. Particularly, a common emotional manifestation of trauma is shame, which can have debilitating power over any of us that has experienced trauma. I’ve researched and written extensively about shame in its relationship with mindfulness. I also worked at Colorado State University’s Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center where I completed several trauma informed trainings.
In therapy sessions, I aid clients in recognizing their symptoms of trauma and help clients break from negative patterns of behavior. I help rebuild empowerment through approaches that fit individual learning and discovery styles.
As humans, we cannot fully be understood without considering our relationships and the systems we’re a part of—our families, communities, and the broader world around us. Even when working with individual clients, we explore these profound influences on mental health and wellness together.
My Life’s Philosophy
I aim to let my joy and curiosity guide me—whether I’m hiking in the mountains while capturing mindful moments with a camera, swing dancing, or sharing in meaningful conversations.
I believe that walking alongside you as you do the courageous work of deepening your understanding of yourself and your loved ones is a privilege. Devoting time to prioritizing our relationships is one of the most valuable things we can do to support our long-term happiness and health. And through therapy, you can find the strength within yourself that is needed to create the change you desire.
Melanie Adams is a therapist at RCC Colorado in Boulder, CO, where she works with couples, families, and individuals, including teens and young adults. Melanie is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral programs for teens, and creative arts-based methods for developing social-emotional capacities. She completed her Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as her doctorate in Applied Developmental Science at Colorado State University. She has published on the benefits of a variety of therapeutic approaches, from mindfulness-based intervention to spending time in nature.
Next Steps
If you’d like to learn more about working together, I invite you to schedule a free 30-minute consultation call using the button below or call me directly at 720-986-5126. I’d be honored to support you on your path toward deeper connection and well-being.
