Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Spino.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It was never my intention to become a mental health therapist or to start my own business but sometimes life just decides to change direction and you either fight it or go with it. I’m glad I didn’t fight it! At the start of my counseling journey, I thought I had found my “true purpose”. Yet, working for companies with so many rules, policies, and procedures with very little flexibility, I never felt like I was really helping anyone. Then came a crossroads when the company I was working for started reducing staff as they moved toward fully closing the division where I worked. I planned to go to work for another company when it was suggested I open my own business. Against all odds, my fear and reservations, and advice from business experts, I “officially” opened my business, Life Transitions Therapy LLC in 2011. Business mentors relayed that having four different areas of business, even if they somewhat overlapped, would be confusing and I needed to narrow my focus and define my niche. Yet, something inside me kept pushing to use all of my education and credentials and against all expert advice, I went with my intuition. I elected to provide mental health services (individual, couples, families) while also specializing in trauma. I also provide pain management counseling, vocational rehabilitation counseling, and medical case management. Time and time again, I was told this would confuse potential clients, and because I was not planning to bill medical insurance for mental health and pain management services that I would be out of business within the first two years. It’s been over 10 years now and I’m grateful every day that I am still in business and able to help others. I’m proof that sometimes you have to go with your intuition, trust yourself, and go against the “norm”. I’m also a believer in putting my gratitude into action. So, from the start, I created programs to make mental health services more affordable. I give back through my free to low-cost veteran’s program and reduced rate program for those in lower-income categories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
During the first 3-4 years there were some struggles. I feel I was able to get through them because I went against the normal business model. So, when one area was not as busy, I was often kept busy in another service area. I truly feel that going against the normal business model is what kept me in business. Also, because I am a for-profit business and I personally fully fund my free to reduced rate programs it was a struggle to keep them going when I wasn’t always able to draw a salary. Yet, I did keep them going and even eventually expanded the programs.
As you know, we’re big fans of Life Transitions Therapy LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m very collaborative and work with my clients to help them reach their goals so they can live the life they want. We don’t treat clients like patients because we don’t feel there is anything “wrong” with them. They may have behaviors, habits, or other things that they want to change or improve but that doesn’t mean they are broken. When life seems out of control we are here to help and let them know they are not alone. My four main areas of business are:
Mental Health Therapist- I provide individual, couples, and family therapy. I work with individuals age 12 and above that may be having issues with stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, bipolar symptoms, or is struggling with trauma. This is not an all-inclusive list as we also work with a lot of veterans struggling with PTSD, anxiety, physical and psychological pain, and trauma. I’m a licensed professional counselor in the State of Michigan.
Vocational Rehabilitation Consulting – I accept cases in Michigan, nationally, and under the Defense Based Act. I work with individuals that are injured under workers’ compensation or auto no-fault. I provide vocational assessments, conduct career exploration and testing, and provide various other vocational services.
Pain Management – I provide pain management counseling and work with individuals to help them with lifestyle changes and provide tools to help them better manage their pain. We even offer Ionic detox in office.
Medical case management – as a nationally certified disability management specialist, I am able to work as a medical case manager. I help injured clients (auto no-fault or workers compensation) get appropriate medical treatment. I help them obtain needed diagnostic testing and treatment quickly and with as little stress as possible.
There are three things for which I am most proud. One is that I have been able to keep and expand on my free to low-cost programs for veterans and lower-income individuals. I’m also proud of the fact that I have never once, since opening my business, said to a client that was in the middle of an emotional crisis “well we have 10 minutes left to finish up”. Sadly, this is something I had to say too often when working elsewhere as we had no choice but to stay within the allotted time frames. This saying has become a “norm” in the industry. I always thought it was so dehumanizing and vowed I would never use it if I worked for myself. I won’t let a client leave in a raw emotional state even if the session has to go over the normal appointment time. Finally, in the spring of 2020, our local papers the Lowell Ledger and The Lowell Buyers Guide asked me if I could write one or two weekly articles to help those struggling with the changes and challenges due to COVID. When possible, I’m always willing to give back, so I agreed. I have had a lot of positive feedback on these articles and they continue to this day. I have written hundreds of articles some of which we also try and post on LinkedIn and our Facebook page (when time permits).
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Since childhood, I love being outside in nature and nurturing plants. Gardening eventuality grew into a side business. I no longer have a garden center but my childhood love of plants lives on in my yard (can you tell I love plants from my business entrance). Gardening is what I do for self care as it helps me to relax and decompress.
Contact Info:
- Email: lifetransitionstherapy@gmail.com
- Website: https://lifetransitionstherapy.biz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeTransitionsTherapyLLC
