Melissa DeLong, Founder & CEO

I founded The Wise Center in 2019 with a clear purpose: to bring truly comprehensive, adherent DBT to Alabama and expand access to life-saving, evidence-based care. In my work, I saw a significant gap in treatment for individuals struggling with high emotional dysregulation, including those experiencing suicidality and self-injury. I also wanted to create a space where LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent clients feel safe, respected, and understood. The Wise Center was built to meet those needs—to offer structured, compassionate, and effective care for people who often have the hardest time finding the right support.

I studied psychology at Columbia University, where I graduated with departmental honors, Phi Beta Kappa, and summa cum laude, and later earned my MSW from New York University. My clinical training includes intensive work in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety and depression through the Beck Institute, intensive DBT training through Behavioral Tech, and Level 2 training in AEDP, an attachment- and emotion-focused therapy.

I am licensed in Alabama and New York, and my approach to therapy is both structured and deeply compassionate. I believe meaningful change is possible, even for clients who have felt stuck for a long time, and I’m passionate about building a practice that can truly support clients doing some of the hardest work of their lives. Before my career in mental health, I was a professional ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre—an experience that continues to shape my appreciation for discipline, resilience, and the process of meaningful change.