Melanie Masters, MFT Intern
FAMILY PHASES COUNSELING, WESTLAKE VILLAGE
5743 Corsa Ave., Suite 223 Westlake Village, CA 91362
805.499.9633
5743 Corsa Ave., Suite 223 Westlake Village, CA 91362
805.499.9633
I bring to my practice a passion for helping individuals and families understand the strengths each one brings to their own personal journey and how to use those strengths to cope with the challenges life has presented to them.
I believe with this knowledge, through the therapeutic process, that individuals learn to embrace their true potential and find meaning and harmony in their world.
In my practice I provide compassionate, positive, and ethical counseling while creating a non-judgemental, safe environment.
My career began in the field of education, working with students with disabilities. I have my teaching credentials in special education and have taught in both regular and special education classes. For the last 10 years I have been a Disabilities Specialist at Moorpark College. As I worked with many of the students there, I became aware of the pain many of them carried as a result of their learning challenges. I decided to return to school to learn how I could help them come to terms with their pain and in doing so I not only learned the many skills needed to be a marriage and family therapist, but I felt I had found my true calling.
I have done extensive research on the psychological impacts of learning difficulties and attention deficit disorder and I continue to use this knowledge to guide me in both my work as a Learning Disabilities Specialist at Moorpark College and in my private practice.
My own personal journey continues to inform me in my work with clients, as I have experienced the loss of several family members, the joys and challenges of almost 20 years of marriage, a divorce, single parenthood and the privilege of guiding my own two children to productive and happy lives as young adults.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION/INTEREST
Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Blended Family Issues
Grief and Loss
Mid-life Transitions
Empty Nest Syndrome
EDUCATION
Master's Degrees: Pacifica Graduate Institute, Counseling Psychology
California State University, Los Angeles Special Education
Bachelor's Degree: University of California, Los Angeles Music Education
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), Conejo Valley Mental Health Professionals Association (CVMHPA), California Association of Post Secondary Educators of the Disabled (CAPED)