Melissa Young(She/Her/Hers)

Melissa Young, LCPC, is a Northwestern University–trained therapist who works with creative professionals, women of color, and adults navigating trauma, complicated families, IVF, and maternal mental health. Many of her clients are high-functioning, driven, and outwardly successful, yet struggle with burnout, perfectionism, self-doubt, people-pleasing, or the emotional weight of complex family systems and systemic pressures. She is especially attuned to clients who feel misunderstood in traditional therapy spaces and are seeking care that reflects both their inner world and lived experience.

Melissa’s approach is insight-oriented, down to earth, and spiritually integrated. She'll help you explore conscious and unconscious patterns that shape how you relate to yourself, others, and your work, while building deep self love and advocacy. Her work is informed by trauma-responsive care as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and sessions are paced collaboratively to support you as you grow. While the work can be emotionally meaningful and challenging, Melissa brings warmth, authenticity, and grounded presence into the therapeutic space.

With two decades in the creative industries, including music and film, Melissa has a firsthand understanding of the pressures, complexities, and emotional demands faced by creatives and high achievers. As a scholar/researcher and woman of color, she also brings an explicit awareness of how systemic stress, marginalization, and expectations of resilience impact mental health.

Melissa provides therapy to clients in Illinois, coaching outside of Illinois, and is available for virtual sessions via telehealth. Her practice centers on helping clients reconnect with their sense of worth, confidence, and alignment while moving toward lives that feel intentional and free.