Isadora Ferreira De Melo, LAMFT

 
 

EDUCation

  • Doctor of Philosophy: Human Development and Family Studies | Utah State University | Logan, UT | Expected May 2025

  • Master of Marriage & Family Therapy | Abilene Christian University | Abilene, TX | Jul 2022

  • Bachelor of Science: Family Studies | Brigham Young University | Provo, UT | Dec 2019

specializations and Unique Skills:

  • Fluent in and can do therapy in Portuguese

  • Trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for the treatment of trauma. 

  • Clinical and research expertise with couples in mixed-orientation relationships, as well as working with sexual minorities navigating relationship decisions within or without a spiritual/religious background. 

Worldview and approach to therapy:

As I have been taught and trained in a variety of modern and postmodern therapy models during the last few years, the specific therapeutic modalities that I have gravitated towards – and that now inform my personal theory of change – are ones that I felt were characterized by some of my personal values regarding change, such as the need for empathy, understanding, secure relationships and attachments, and personal autonomy. When working with both individual and relational clients in therapy, I have felt that the following models – Collaborative, Narrative, Gottman-informed, and Emotionally Focused Therapy – support those values, as well as those of my clients, in the therapeutic process. 

In Emotionally Focused Therapy, the role of the therapist is to be an emotional sounding board and mentor for the couple. I do this by modeling  during therapy the kind of  attentive and responsive emotional behavior to each client that the therapist wishes to build between the partners themselves. While the therapist is seeking to build a secure attachment between the partners, the therapist themselves will be providing a secure attachment for the couple. I strive to provide a therapeutic resource to my clients that is both beneficial to them, and authentic to myself. During the assessment and engagement phases of therapy, my first priority is to join with the client in a way that communicates to them my respect, genuine support, and unconditional positive regard. Engaging with my clients means getting to know them and the context in which they experience their presenting problem. It means learning about their hopes and dreams and goals and striving to honor their values in our cooperative and collaborative efforts to bring about lasting change in the ways that matter to each client. As a systemically informed therapist, I try to take into consideration the context of my client’s environment and relationships at every level of the therapeutic process, including assessment, joining, goal setting, processing, intervention, and eventual termination. As a Collaborative and Narrative therapist, I recognize my own role in the system as a co-constructor of meaning that leads to change. As a Gottman-informed and Emotionally-Focused therapist, I recognize the significance of attachment, emotion, connection, and respect in the therapy room.   

about me:

Hello! I was born in Brazil but raised here in Utah and call the Wasatch mountains home. I love people and am very extroverted. I love spending time with friends and family, and I love movies, books, live theater, hiking and dancing. I love to travel and wish I had more time to do so. I would describe my personality growing up as a mixture between Hermione Granger from "Harry Potter", and Monica Geller from the tv show "Friends", haha. 

I am passionate about mental health and the well-being of individuals and relationships, and love that I get to spend my life helping others to discover and work towards the happiest and healthiest version of themselves and their relationships.