Banyan Tree Counseling and Wellness
About Me
Hi there! I’m Melissa (she/her) a first generation college graduate from St. Petersburg, Florida with Appalachian roots. My father and many generations before him were born and raised in the coal mining country of rural southwestern Virginia, so being here in Rocky Top feels like a homecoming of sorts for me. And though I have never been a sports fan, attending a game in Neyland Stadium was spiritual experience: an SEC baptism in Vol Nation fervor. I am now a Vol for Life. Go Vols!
I completed my BSW and MSW at The University of South Florida and spent the majority of my career in school social work and my summers traveling. I love the feeling of being awestruck by nature and try get outdoors as much as possible by hiking, biking, or taking meandering drives with my French Bulldog, Penny, on the scenic byways of Appalachia.
“Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased.
It is no small gift.”
Mary Oliver
