Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Melin.
Adam, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started at the bottom and worked so hard to pull myself up to where I am today. No, no, that’s not all true. My story is full of privilege. As an English speaking, white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, able-bodied man from an upper-middle-class family in the United States, I definitely did not start at the bottom. I was born into a situation that afforded me such an opportunity that I am still trying to fully comprehend. My parents have loved me so well, my three brothers and I get along incredibly well, and the most oppression I faced was for being a ‘sensitive’ male.
Of course, I have faced challenges and hardship but it feels important to acknowledge my privilege and the oppression I see around me. I moved around as a kid a lot and learned how to adapt to situations and find ways to belong socially. My first vocation out of college was with a public accounting firm at the guidance friends and family as it was a ‘secure, well-paying job.’ I was pretty good at it and got promoted quickly. Quickly, I realized that while I did have secure, money, and plenty of food for my ego I did not have very much meaning in my life. I started traveling, volunteering, and actually learning. I started mentoring an eight-year-old boy ten years ago. It has not been his job and I did not realize this would happen but he has been my biggest teacher.
I have learned so much from him and our relationship, for which I am forever grateful. After some really trying times in his life, my parents separating for a bit, my aunt dying unexpectedly and me flailing around trying to help everyone including my grieving cousin, I sought out to find some skills and meaning. I, a certified public accountant, applied for one master of a counseling program. I got in and fell in love. Not only did I fall in love with learning about therapy but I actually fell in love with a woman I met at a residential treatment center for children.
Over the past four years, I slowly built up my own private practice as a therapist while working part-time as an accountant to help support my family and doing contract therapy while I built up my confidence and skills. During this time, I started confronting my own privilege and the ways in which I have (and can unconsciously still) contributed to the oppression of others. I believe this allows me to grow as a person and connect with people I meet within a more intimate way.
Has it been a smooth road?
Comparatively to many people in the world, my road has been incredibly smooth! Again, that does not mean I have not faced challenges. Mostly in myself and from internalized societal messages. Fear has been a huge obstacle. Fears including my fear of failing, fear of not being good at therapy, fear of further oppressing women, people of color, neurodiverse folks, and other marginalized groups, fear of being seen as an emotionally expressive man, fear of judgment from my family, fear of taking up space, and so on. There is a comfort and security in privilege.
A voice that tells me to stay in the comfort zone. Keep making more and more money as an accountant so your family can have a quality life and you do not have to hurt anybody. I was rattled to my core in graduate school and in my relationship with my mentee multiple times about my privilege and the oppression/abuse others face (and that I have regretfully participated in). I have seen people I love to live their whole lives in fear or frozen by past trauma. I care too much about addressing injustices, witnessing folks heal trauma they have experienced or been passed down, and honoring the gifts I feel most connected to in myself to let these fears stop me from pursuing what inspires me and connects me to others in an authentic way.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My internship at People House (incredible organization with locations in Denver/Aurora/Lafayette that offers low-cost therapy) led me to start my own private practice. I work primarily with individual adults and those in relationships (married, business partners, nonmonogamous relationships). I work with a culturally-informed lens that honors attachment theory and the power of our emotions.
I believe I have an incredible capacity to be with people and hold space for them to explore what is true for them. I specialize in meeting people where they are and working really hard in seeing them. Really seeing them to make them feel comfortable enough to do really hard work while knowing they do not have to do it alone. I believe trauma impacts everyone to varying degrees and to be part of humans acknowledgement and healing of that trauma is what inspires me.
I am proud of growing my business primarily through personal referrals and word of mouth of existing or past clients. I am proud of all the folks willing to show up in my office to honor themselves and their inherent desire to most towards their authentic self. I am proud of having a business that feels really meaningful.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Definitely! I see that there are many people desiring change and space to honor themselves in a world that tells us we are not enough and provides endless distractions. There is an incredible community of practitioners that have such unique skill sets and gifts to offer. I would tell any potential client to interview multiple folks to find out who is a good fit. I am aware that culturally there seems to be a shortage of practitioners that can speak multiple languages to support folks who may have a different first language. Our city could find ways to assist and fund students who may be interested in this type of work.
Pricing:
- $90 – 55 minute individual session
- $125 – 75 minute relationship session
Contact Info:
- Address: 80 Garden Center, Suite 50, Broomfield, CO 80020
- Website: www.adammelin.com
- Phone: 7202632705
- Email: [email protected]
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