More About Melanie
I’m Melanie Maldonado, a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) in Colorado, practicing under the supervision of Dr. Janice Moran, PhD LPC. I specialize in working with women navigating anxiety, OCD and intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, burnout and life transitions, ADHD and impulsivity, and questions of identity, self-worth, and women’s mental health.
Background and Approach
Before becoming a therapist, I was the girl from a small town in northern New Mexico with big dreams and an even bigger to-do list.
I moved across the country to attend college in North Carolina, originally planning to pursue a career in medicine. Like many of the women I work with today, I tied much of my identity to achievement. I believed that if I worked hard enough, accomplished enough, and kept pushing forward, everything would eventually fall into place.
But life had other plans.
As I moved through college, I began to realize that medicine was no longer aligned with who I was or the life I wanted to build. Letting go of that dream wasn't just a career change—it was an identity shift. I found myself navigating a season of uncertainty, grief, and self-discovery, wondering who I was if I wasn't pursuing the path I had envisioned for so long.
For the next few years, I wandered.
I spent five years working in a fast-paced corporate environment, trying to find my footing while battling burnout, anxiety, and the pressure to have everything figured out. From the outside, I looked successful. Internally, I felt disconnected from myself and unsure of what direction to take next.
It was through my own experience in therapy that I began to untangle the beliefs that had quietly shaped so much of my life: that my worth was tied to productivity, that asking for help meant I was failing, and that rest had to be earned.
Therapy helped me reconnect with who I was underneath the expectations, perfectionism, and fear of disappointing others.
It taught me that ambition and well-being can coexist. That success doesn't have to come at the expense of your mental health. And that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is choose a path that aligns with our values, even when it looks different than what we originally planned.
Today, I work with women who often appear to have it all together while quietly carrying anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, and the pressure to be everything for everyone. Together, we'll explore the patterns that no longer serve you, build practical tools for navigating life's challenges, and create a version of success that feels sustainable and authentic to who you are.
I don't believe therapy is about changing who you are. I believe it's about helping you return to yourself.
You don't have to stop dreaming big.
Exposure & Response Therapy (ERP)
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For OCD and intrusive thoughts, we’ll gradually face the situations your brain labels as ‘danger’ while practicing not doing the usual rituals, so anxiety can ease and your life can open back up.
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Acceptance & Committment Therapy (ACT)
Instead of fighting every thought or feeling, we’ll practice making room for your inner experience while taking small, meaningful steps toward the life you want.
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
We’ll build skills for managing big emotions, staying present, and navigating relationships, so you can feel more steady and less overwhelmed day to day.
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Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
We’ll notice the links between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and gently experiment with new ways of thinking and responding so you feel less stuck in old patterns.
My Approach
Education
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Adams State University, 2024
B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, High Point University, 2018
Women's Mental Health Speclialist Certificate
I value ongoing learning and regularly pursue training that deepens my work with anxiety, OCD, trauma, ADHD, and women’s mental health.
Additional Training & Continuing Education
OCD Assessment & Treatment
Exposure Based Therapy for OCD
Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Bingeing & Body Image
How I Work
Therapy with me is collaborative, curious, and grounded in respect for your lived experience. I don’t see you as a problem to be fixed, but as a whole person who deserves care, context, and choice. Together, we’ll slow down, notice patterns, and experiment with new ways of relating to yourself and your life so things feel more aligned with what matters most to you.
Some of the lenses I bring to therapy include being a Hispanic/Latina woman, an eldest daughter, and an intersectional feminist. I think a lot about how culture, family roles, and gender expectations shape the pressure you feel—especially if you’ve always been the “responsible one” or the one holding it all together. All of your identities and stories are welcome in the room; nothing is too much or too messy here.
If you feel like my approach and story resonate with you, you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see how it feels to talk together.
