Melanie Somerville

Melanie Somerville is a seasoned, doctoral-level psychotherapist who joined The Lovett Center as a contracted therapist after years of clinical work, including service as Chief Clinical Officer at one of the nation’s most prestigious clinics. She holds degrees from The University of Texas, Texas A&M International University, and St. Mary’s University, and her theoretical foundation is rooted in a psychodynamic approach that acknowledges the profound impact of early experiences and family dynamics on how people understand and interact with the world.

Alongside that foundation, Melanie is trained in Gestalt therapy, Sensorimotor psychotherapy, mindfulness, chronic pain management, trauma-informed practices, and EMDR. She references the teachings of Eastern philosophies, yoga, and meditation, and incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients translate insight into actionable change. Her primary specialty is working with adults navigating midlife, a dynamic stage rich with possibility yet sometimes difficult. Whether the transition stems from divorce, the empty nest, retirement, or another experience, her aim is to help clients make sense of the changes, losses, grief, and opportunities, clarify meaning and purpose, and foster growth.

Melanie is equally committed to supporting people living with chronic pain and the family members who care for them. She sees understanding the neurobiology of pain as crucial to addressing its complex components, and her approach is informed by the work of Dr. Howard Schubiner and other pain medicine specialists. For caregivers, who often carry compassion fatigue, she offers a supportive space for the emotional and physical exhaustion of caregiving. Her practice rests on a collaborative therapeutic alliance, the factor research points to as most important in effecting change, and she works in a way that is careful, non-judgmental, and curious. The client is the expert on their own life, and Melanie’s role is to understand, facilitate awareness, and empower people with the knowledge and choice to make the changes they decide are necessary. She has presented widely on mindfulness, attachment, trauma, and chronic pain, including a 2023 talk at the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals on the complexities of trauma and their relationship to addiction.