Joanne Medellin Counseling Services

Connecting with people in a moment of need has often times come by what seems like chance in my life. We never know when we'll find ourselves alongside someone in a moment of despair. I often find myself wondering about these kinds of encounters in general. Chance? Perhaps. I am grateful for these experiences in my life, for they have led me to where I am now.

For as long as I can remember I've been facinated by human compassion, and my professional journey has come as a product of this sentiment. Prior to opening my practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist I worked with families and communities in need for nearly 10 years. For 7 of those years I worked with adults suffering from severe depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, and addictions. Many of my clients were facing life-altering circumstances as a result of their diagnosis and symptoms.  We worked together to develop strategies to manage and overcome their unique challenges. The earlier years in my career were spent working with agencies in Kansas City coordinating fundraising events for families with young children facing devastating medical challenges, as well as working in Southern California providing trainings, grant writing and business planning for agencies serving families with children age 0-5.

Throughout my career and life I've seen ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and will always be in awe of the moments when suffering is transformed. I'm captivated by the mind's ability to unexplainably connect and process immeasurable emotions and experiences. I'm equally captivated by the ability of humans to attune to one another in these moments and create something, some new place, that opens space for healing. Connection. It changes everything.