WellBeing

11/06/2025

Always important… even more so during the holidays.

11/05/2025

People who suffer from Complex PTSD often experience a series of events in which the power structure dehumanizes and abuses them. Most often, the system offers no recourse, correction, or apology. Such unresolved trespasses can accumulate and compound over time.

When we become angry instead of numb, it's actually a sign of progress! Numbing/not reacting/shut-down is the "freeze" response. Our limbic system freezes when there is no other viable option. Our early environments taught us there was no way out; shut-down was the safest survival adaptation.

But once we are resourced enough we can leave the freeze response and move into "fight," which is active and powerful. Our anger is likely to increase, which can be disconcerting, especially when we are taught it's bad/wrong or even dangerous to express anger. (This is mainstream culture!)

But anger is our body's natural and normal response to violations or perceived violations. This can seem dangerous, but with a little knowledge and focused attention, we can direct our anger in healthful ways that improve our quality of life.

For instance, whenever I feel rage over the medical abuse I endured, I take one small step toward creating justice. I write a paragraph, look up a potential ally, or add some data to the file.

One small decisive act can bring us out of impotent rage or despair and help us move toward a better future.

10/20/2025

October 19th is National "Evaluate your life day"!

Where are you & where do you want to be in the following areas... and are they congruent? Would you like to walk through a guided step by step review of each, then develop and take actionable steps to head toward your personal or group goals? Here is what my “Life Assessment” program covers:
1) Family Life
2) Professional Life
3) Physical Health
4) Emotional / Mental Health
5) Spiritual Life
6) Financial Life
7) Social Life (relationships, etc.)
8 ) Your House / Home

Is where you ARE matching up with where you want to be? If not, you have so many opportunities for assistance! Two of those are counseling or life coaching.

BEST PRACTICE FOR FINDING A THERAPIST:
You can call the 800 # on the back of your insurance card for a list of in-network providers (licensed therapist / counselors) in your area or get recommendations from friends & family. Oftentimes out-of-network isn't that much more expensive than in network & it's worth it to find the best fit for you.

BEST PRACTICE FOR FINDING A LIFE COACH:
There are certifications for Life Coaches & you would want to make sure yours is certified & trained in the area in which they're coaching you (i.e. There are overall P.E. Coaches then there are those who specialize in baseball or football or even more specifically – your golf swing, passing, weight training. The same considerations apply when finding a qualified Life Coach)

Don't hesitate to comment here, message or call me for more information. My Counseling practice serves all of Virginia & Louisiana & WellBeing Life Coaching is available in person or Virtual wherever you are!

WellBeing Life Coaching is provided in-person; on-site or virtually. My absolute favorite Life Coaching exercise is the aforementioned “Life Assessment” followed by goal setting (with measured objectives & quarterly reviews of progress). There's a good bit of "groundwork" prior to the review of the 8 life areas... that's my “secret sauce” & where the magic is! This process is transformative for individuals, couples, families or groups.

Give Me 5 ~ Goodbye 2025 !
The first 5 individuals who reach out and register will receive 5% off registration for a 3-hour individual or group "Assessment & Goal Setting" workshop in late November / early December.

Comment “Give Me 5”, send a private message or contact me through my Psychology today profile https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/melinda-anne-ensley-north-chesterfield-va/1388912

Let’s get your, or your groups, journey moving forward in preparation for those 2026 New Years Goals!

Be Well! Take Care!

06/12/2025

Hi to those of you who are new here and those who have been here for years!

I am happy to announce I currently have openings available in my private practice schedule. I am offering individual, couples & family counseling and can serve clients via Telehealth throughout the states of both Virginia & Louisiana.

Links to Insurance Information & Scheduling can be found on my Psychology Today Profile https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1388912

I am an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) & LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) in both Louisiana & Virginia and have been an NCC (Nationally Certified Counselor) since 1997. With 3 decades of professional experience in the field, I have worked as a direct provider in the public, private and non-profit sectors in both in-and outpatient settings across the spectrum of mental health issues & mental illness diagnosis.

I am highly skilled at producing and maintaining best outcomes for clients and their families. My career experience provides expertise as a successful goal & outcome focused provider, who is passionate about the provision of ethical, effective, quality, holistic team approaches and care coordination with my client’s families & providers. My clients compliment my teaching, coaching & supportive therapy style over a directive approach. I utilize CBT, DBT & Experiential Learning techniques integrating Psychoanalytic, Person Centered (Rogerian), Holistic, Reality, Integrational, Multicultural and Existential theories.

Clients are drawn to my “old school” approach in running my practice. I am not affiliated with any franchise or corporate healthcare conglomerate; I am an independent practitioner who coordinates with corporate healthcare systems on my & my client’s terms.

My areas of specialization are:
* Couples,
* Marriage & Family,
* Grief & Loss,
* Chronic & Terminal Illnesses,
* Victims & Post-trauma,
* Families in Transition,
* Career Direction and
* Corporate Wellness

I appreciate you considering me as a referral for your family & friends and welcome you sharing this post.

Insurance information and the link to scheduling can be found on my Psychology Today Profile:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1388912

01/27/2025

Once you apply the concepts of
“Let Them” &
“Accepting Rejection for the Blessing it is”

You find peace, internal & external growth & an incredible life of your own making.

I came across a quote that said:

You'll always be brave in someone's mind and coward in another's, strong to one and fragile to another, good to one and terrible to another.
You will be seen as annoying to one and comforting to another.
Some will feel anxious around you and some will find peace in your company. Some will see you as "too much" while others will see you as a gift.
The world will look at you from their subjective point of view.
The world is never going to agree on a definition of who you are.
So you might as well live the way that feels true to your heart

Unknown
Art: Hayk Shalunts

01/16/2025

What an honor to be asked by my National Certification Board to speak on the importance of our participation in obtaining and maintaining this Professional Certification. It’s “been a minute” since I’ve participated in live video interviews. This one was so very important to me because I feel it’s equally important for both providers & consumers to understand what the “NCC” behind our names represents. If you’re not a “video watcher” here’s a synopsis of why NBCC & the NCC credential matter so much to me.

Benefits of NCC membership and the NCC Credential:

1. Holding & maintaining this National Certification displays a commitment to excellence in our field, as well as an extra layer of protection for clients. This enhances our credibility.

2. Credential holders have opportunities to obtain free or deeply discounted continuing education.

3. Having worked as a Case Manager for Managed Care & in Community Settings, the “Counselor Find” link on the NBCC website provides the ability for anyone to find qualified counselors with a few clicks of a button.

4. NBCC is a professional resource offering a guide to vetted providers for liability insurance (which is a requirement for providers to be in network on insurance panels & to join many practices).

5. There are updates & enhancements regularly to our profession’s ethical guidelines, both nationally and within our respective states.

6. NBCC is one of the resources I can turn to for up-to-date information with a glance.
For example; in recent years we had a sharp learning curve with Telehealth…….. The most recent update is regarding the Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence in Counseling. Anyone can already find that on NBCC’s website.

7. Again, the NBCC website makes this all truly as easy as a click of a button. There’s even a downloadable Flipbook of “Client’s Rights & Responsibilities” & our 15-page Code of Ethics is there for anyone to see.

8. NBCC “Visions” & “The Digest” online are great resources for up-to-date information & cutting edge topics as well as CEU’s

Whether counselors participate in NBCC or not; their Government Affairs initiatives promote counseling to decision makers, which is a tremendous benefit to all of us.

12/08/2024

If you identify with this…. My office is your “safe space”.

My office would absolutely be the place for you!

Therapist: “Take a Seat! You’re right where you belong.”