My Approach to Helping
Melinda Smith feels it is an honor to support individuals during some of life’s most challenging moments. She believes everyone will experience times when they need the guidance of a trusted counselor, and she approaches her work with a blend of truth, grace, and humor. By fostering an environment of safety and trust, Melinda creates the conditions necessary for meaningful growth. Motivated by the connections she makes with clients, she finds great fulfillment in building relationships and witnessing their personal transformations.
Melinda is a Nationally Board-Certified Art Therapist and licensed Mental Health Counselor in Colorado, bringing over 25 years of experience from clinical and educational settings. Her expertise includes working with children, families, victims of domestic violence, and, more recently, teen parents. Using an eclectic therapeutic approach, she integrates Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Psychology, and Art Therapy to find the best fit for each client’s unique needs.
In addition to her therapy practice, Melinda holds certifications as a Nurturing Parenting facilitator, Common Sense Parenting facilitator, and Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children facilitator. She also has specialized training in crisis counseling, trauma-informed care, and healthy sexual development. Outside of her work at Foundations Counseling, Melinda enjoys spending time with her family, nurturing her love for plants, creating art, quoting movie lines, and savoring great food. A Kansas native who has lived in seven cities across three states, she has called Colorado home for over 17 years. Married for more than 30 years, she and her husband are proud parents to two sons.