Hi, I’m Melissa, and I am so glad you’re here! I feel incredibly grateful to lead The Wise Center, a practice dedicated to providing high-quality Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other evidence-based psychotherapies in Birmingham and across Alabama. My path to this work has been anything but traditional—I actually started my career as a professional ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre in New York before transitioning to psychology. After retiring from dance, I earned my degree from Columbia University and went on to complete my Master of Social Work at NYU, where I focused on psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to train with some of the best in the field. I completed formal training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression and anxiety at the Beck Institute, underwent intensive DBT training through Marsha Linehan’s Behavioral Tech, and am committed to being a lifelong DBT learner! I’m also a Level 2 therapist in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), which focuses on healing attachment-related trauma.

Before founding The Wise Center, I developed and implemented a DBT program at Grayson and Associates, where we saw real, measurable improvements in emotion regulation for clients. Now, at TWC, I get to work alongside an amazing team, helping people build lives worth living, moving beyond merely surviving to truly thriving!

At the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to making therapy practical, accessible, and genuinely effective in the presence of a caring, connected, nonjudgmental other. Whether working directly with clients or supporting our team, my goal is to help people self-actualize through the experience of feeling seen, understood, and empowered.

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me hanging out with friends, family, and my French bulldog, Pascal—probably being a little silly or having what the kids now call “deep and meaningful” conversations. I really enjoy soaking in those everyday moments that make life so special.