Denver-Based Therapist Combining Art, Mindfulness & Psychedelic Therapy For Lasting Change – Interview With Melina Rodriguez
- Jul 17, 2024
- 4 min read
Melina Rodriguez, a Denver-based mental health therapist and First Generation immigrant from Uruguay, compassionately addresses anxiety, depression, boundaries, sexual trauma, PTSD, codependency, and abuse. Her personal healing journey fuels a passion for empowering couples and individuals. Using a holistic approach, Melina includes Internal Family Systems, mindfulness, inner child work, creativity, and even psychedelic-assisted therapy, customizing sessions to highlight clients' strengths. Dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for the journey to authentic existence, she believes relationships are the path to healing.
Melina Rodriguez, Therapist & Coach
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
I was born in Uruguay and immigrated to the United States with my family when I was eight years old. As a child, I often escaped into books, journaling, daydreaming, dancing, and singing, which sparked my lifelong love of creativity. Early on, I discovered the magic of my emotions. Growing up as an immigrant was isolating, and I didn't fully understand its impact until much later in life. With my parents understandably preoccupied, I balanced my internal isolation by immersing myself in learning, reading, and writing, which made me more introverted.
I am passionate about anything that inspires creativity in me, whether it’s visiting museums, exploring art galleries, learning new things, enjoying music, or dancing. To me, life is art, and we are constantly creating. I often get lost in the nuances of life and sometimes forget to appreciate the beauty of the mundane; creativity is my escape.
I am always learning, whether through reading or listening to audiobooks and podcasts on self-development. My desire to understand myself extends to a desire to understand others, which fuels my passion for my work and my clients. I have a deep appreciation for the universal human experience. Recently, I've started meditating, taking dance classes, traveling, and engaging in outdoor activities like paddleboarding, further enriching my creative journey.
What inspired you to start Soulfight Counseling, and what is the mission behind your business?
As someone who desires to be understood and seen in all my complexities. As I learned more about myself and how my experiences shaped me, I realized that many people share this same longing—to be truly seen and understood. Therapy was the beginning of self-awareness and it’s been a long road, but I continue to appreciate the journey and feel honored to be invited into people’s lives.
My mission is to help individuals embrace their authentic selves by rewriting narratives filled with self-limiting beliefs and fostering self-acceptance, allowing their unique identities to emerge. I aim to create a space of unconditional acceptance where individuals can explore every facet of themselves—from light to dark—to achieve integration and lead more fulfilling lives.
Can you tell us about the range of counseling services offered at Soulfight Counseling and the approach you take towards therapy?
I serve a diverse range of clients facing various issues, including depression, anxiety, loss of sense of self, relationship problems, and trauma. My approach to individual therapy focuses on fostering self-understanding, rewriting personal narratives to support future growth, releasing shame and guilt, and healing trauma that keeps us feeling stuck. I also empower women and help them explore their sexual selves. In couples therapy, I concentrate on rebuilding intimacy and deepening mutual understanding to enhance communication and reduce triggers.
My approach is client-centered and collaborative, prioritizing the development of a strong therapeutic relationship and creating a safe space for deep self-exploration. I incorporate mindfulness and visualization techniques, as well as parts work/IFS, to help clients understand the internal parts that shape their identities and behaviors. When appropriate, I encourage clients to engage in creative activities like art projects, journaling, or trying new experiences outside the therapy room. Additionally, I have successfully integrated ketamine and psychedelic therapies with specific clients to access deeper, more protected parts of the self.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
Incorporating Ketamine-Assisted Therapy into my practice has been a significant achievement. As the mental health industry in the US evolves to include psychedelic medicines, we can enhance the therapeutic process. When used correctly and in conjunction with therapy, psychedelics help break down the mind's protective barriers and increase neuroplasticity, facilitating the rewiring of neural pathways essential for lasting change. As legislation progresses in the US, these medicines offer unprecedented access to profound healing when used properly.
Where do you see your career taking you?
While being a therapist will always be my primary role, I envision expanding my practice to include a coaching segment specifically for women who are discovering their identities, purpose, and power. I aim to create a program that integrates my passions for art, dance, and yoga with therapeutic techniques to facilitate healing. Believing in the power of community, I am also focused on developing more workshops and group sessions where individuals can come together and support one another.
What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned being a therapist?
Self-acceptance is the key to unlocking authenticity.
We all feel similar emotions, even through different experiences.
Connection is the path to healing.
Boundaries are the container to maintaining a sense of self.
Patterns are repeated as lessons, relationships parallel dynamics from our past in order to help us grow.
Self-care is the opposite of self abandonment
Most of us are addicted to escape – so create a life you don’t want to escape from.
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