Melissa W Cooper

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

California # 141326

Women’s Issues

As women we experience many meaningful changes in our lives. At one time, these moments would have been marked by rituals that recognized and gave meaning as we transition from one life stage into another. The rituals helped create a balance of opposing internal and external forces such as light and shadow, masculine and feminine, order and chaos helping women connect with their authentic self and lead to more fulfilling lives.

Trauma and Abuse:

  • Sexual Trauma:

  • Domestic Violence:

  • Childhood Trauma:

“A life truly lived constantly burns away veils of illusion, burns away what is no longer relevant, gradually reveals our essence, until, at last, we are strong enough to stand in our naked truth.”
— Marion Woodman

Career and Professional Issues:

  • Workplace Stress

  • Imposter Syndrome:

Grief and Loss:

  • Death of a Loved One:

  • Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss:

Mental Health and Emotional Well-being:

  • Anxiety and Depression:

  • Body Image Issues:

  • Low Self-esteem and Self-worth:

Sexual Health and Identity:

  • Sexual Dysfunction:

  • Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation:

Life Transitions:

  • Menopause and Hormonal Changes:

  • Infertility and Reproductive Health:

  • Empty Nest Syndrome:

  • Divorce or Separation:

Some Common Women’s Issues

Relationship Issues:

  • Romantic Relationships:

  • Motherhood and Parenting:

  • Family Dynamics:

Societal Pressures:

  • Perfectionism

  • Cultural Expectations and Gender Roles

Many of the experiences common to women living in a patriarchal world can cause anxiety, stress, uncertainty, loss of self-esteem, lack of direction, sadness, depression, emotional fatigue, relationship strain, loneliness, poor health, and self-doubt. I provide a safe space for women to reconnect with their authentic feelings through the goddess within them using dreams, art, active imagination, and their own body, freeing them to explore emotions, connect to their authentic self, and lead more fulfilling lives.

Step One

My First Priority with every client is to co-create goals for our work together based on their needs and desires.

Step Two

Establish an internal landscape of compassion, regular routine of self care, and foster the confidence to establish boundaries to allow their basic needs to get met.

Step Three

I use a holistic approach to help explore any discomfort they are experiencing: Some of the tools that I find useful are:

  • Dream Work

  • Mindfulness Practices

  • Somatic Practices

  • Art

  • Mythology

  • Other Depth (Jungian) Practices