Melissa Pickett,
LLMSW 
(she/her)

Melissa is licensed in and can see people within Michigan (MI) 

Sessions can be in-person or virtual.

For virtual sessions, you must be in the state of MI or IL during your sessions

Hi, Welcome!

I am so glad you are here. My name is Melissa, and I’m one of the therapists here at RISE. I’m also an advocate, activist, and facilitator. My role as a therapist is to co-create a space with you to help you feel supported, seen and at ease. 

Just like one solution doesn’t fit every problem, one modality doesn’t help every person. I utilize Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems theory, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills in my practice, pulling from different skill sets to provide support and tools that best meet your needs and goals. 

In all aspects of my life, I strive to embody intersectional feminist, decolonial, and anti-racist frameworks. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA2+ populations, polyamorous individuals, non-monogamous relationship dynamics (bring the polycule!), kink, body positivity, and the intersection of reproductive and sexual health and wellness. 

I am passionate about sexual health and education because it is a root of liberation. Unpacking and discarding the shame, judgment, and trauma we have around our bodies, our identities, our relationships, and our desires is the beginning of truly knowing, understanding, and accepting ourselves. We deserve to be whole, to feel seen and known, and to connect with ourselves and the world in ways that are authentic, fulfilling, and informed.

I earned my Master's degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University, and have experience working with a diverse range of identities, orientations, and populations. I also hold a Bachelor's in Community Advocacy and Social Policy from Arizona State University.

 I became a Social Worker in order to be a professional nuisance, primarily utilizing my educational skillset to fight for reproductive justice, rights for polyamorous and inclusive family structures, and other social justice issues. I have been an abortion clinic escort, a food pantry operator, a crisis manager, a gender identity workshop creator and facilitator, and an organizer working on passing legislation to protect the rights of non-traditional family structures, including polyamorous or Consensually Non-Monogamous people and families. 

When I’m not working or making the best kinds of trouble, I can usually be found at home, curled up under a blanket with one of my kids, my dogs, or one of my partners, binge-watching TV. I could also be terrorizing my household with increasingly creative cooking. I can sometimes be spotted thrifting, adding to my substantial book collection, or attending local drag shows with my polycule.