Hi, My name is Melissa hogan.
I am a practicing Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. I am working in Hermosa Beach, CA. I grew up here and in Redondo Beach and I’m happy to be supporting my community. I have worked as a counselor in the community with neurodiverse adults, adults with substance abuse disorders, and in primary and secondary schools. I am fond of the human connection that is created within the counseling setting.
Through play therapy, together we can connect children to their emotions in new ways. Children have so many big feelings and need support in how to express them. Together we work through that and find new ways to communicate.
Reaching out for help can be uncomfortable. You should be proud to be this far. Sometimes, going to speak to someone who is completely objective and doesn’t know you personally can be helpful. When we shut it all inside, there is nowhere to put it. Together we can put it out on the table and look at it, and slowly put it away where it belongs.
My Approach
I like to focus on self-compassion and self-acceptance. We can use the actuality of who we are in this moment in time, what already exists within us, to empower us to become a better version. Together we can connect to work toward these personal goals.
Self-compassion
We can be the nicest person in the world but the meanest person to ourselves. In this society, we always feel as though we are never good enough. Through self-compassion we can learn to nurture and love ourselves and be grateful for any work that we do and thank ourselves at the end of each day.
Self-acceptance
Accepting oneself is never easy. Knowing who we are and trusting ourselves can help us to accept who we are and actually like who we are! Setting individual goals that coincide with our values helps us to reach self-acceptance and authenticity.