Alexa Mellman, M.S.W.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde

Alexa Mellman is a therapist experienced in treating adults of all ages, whether individually, as couples, or in group settings. She has worked for several years providing mental health services to a diverse mix of people and enjoys helping individuals of all faiths, races, and backgrounds. She is passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community and survivors of abuse. She specializes in treating trauma, PTSD, dissociative identity disorder, anxiety, substance use disorder, building self-esteem, and life transitions. She utilizes a non-violent approach, meaning she respects that every individual has the right to define what their happiness looks like and how they would like to get there, and will never impose her will or beliefs on another.

Although she saw success in treating people with more traditional methods, Alexa recognized a common block in the healing process – certain thoughts and behaviors proved resistant to logic, willpower, and even repeated negative consequences. At the root of all these “stuck places” was trauma – whether it was a single major incident, an unresolved hurt from childhood, or repeated smaller abuses over time.

After doing extensive research on trauma, Alexa dedicated her practice to helping people get through these blocks. She completed intensive training in Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based treatment that helps people get “unstuck” by addressing the neurobiological component of trauma in addition to the emotional, mental, and spiritual elements. The somatic and attachment focus looks at how we hold our experiences in our bodies and how we have learned to relate to others and ourselves. By also strengthening spiritual beliefs and values is the kind of wrap-around treatment that keeps the past in the past, and the future open to love and light.

Alexa’s passion for research began when she studied Literature and Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While completing her coursework, she built a successful career in design and corporate management before finally following her passion and earning her Master’s degree in Social Work from Kennesaw State University. Since graduating, she dedicated several years to Cobb County Community Services Board, where she wore many hats, eventually acting as a lead clinician on a highly-intensive multidisciplinary treatment team. She has also worked in hospice and volunteered with dog rescues and liveSAFE Resources, an organization that aids victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

When not immersed in trauma work, she loves spending time goofing off and belly-laughing with her husband, twin sons, and twin Pugs. After a lifetime of travel, she is enjoying putting down roots and creating a home where there is always music playing, food cooking, and a door open. A true introvert, she can usually be found in a pile of pillows and blankets with a book, or spending hours tinkering in her art studio. She can always be bribed to leave her haven for amusement parks, water excursions, or having coffee and food with friends.

Education

• Master of Social Work – Kennesaw State University
• Bachelor of Arts in English – University of Alabama at Birmingham

Licensure, Certifications and Professional Affiliations

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Georgia
• Staff Therapist
• Trained EMDR Practitioner
• Certified Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy Practitioner
• EMDRIA, member
• National Association of Social Workers, member
• Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society, member

Online Presentation

• Strategies for Coping: Helping Middle School Students and Families
  The City of Dunwoody hosted a virtual event on “Strategies for Coping: Helping Middle School Students and Families”. The presentation included discussions on The Impact of Trauma (Alexa Mellman), Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety and Depression (Allison Bates), Coping Skills (Heather Page), and Self-care for Parents (Janet Fluker).