Meet Melina Rodriguez

We recently connected with Melina Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melina, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Like most parents, mine were imperfect, but one of the consistent lessons they imparted was resilience. My parents were young—just 16 and 19—when I was born in Uruguay. I grew up witnessing our lives oscillate between periods of poverty and moments of financial stability, only to revert to instability again. Eventually, my parents made the bold decision to move across the world to Boca Raton, Florida. The shift from our small hometown of just over 25,000 people to the vibrant, sunny atmosphere of South Florida was dramatic. I saw my father take on hard manual labor, a path that would define much of his life, while my mother juggled multiple jobs—riding her bike miles to babysit, working as a server, practicing cosmetology, and even exploring real estate—all while adapting to a new culture and raising two children in their twenties.
After my parents separated, observing each of them build independent lives taught me valuable lessons about self-reliance and the reality of loneliness. When my stepfather entered our lives, his dedication and work ethic further underscored the importance of perseverance and hard work.

When it was time for me to leave for college, I was eager for freedom, ready to test my resilience. I faced the common challenges of balancing newfound independence with study responsibilities and financial obligations. It was a difficult adjustment, and while I didn’t always thrive, I did manage to survive. This period was marked by a series of jobs, changes in my major, and too much socializing. As I began to discover more about myself, unresolved traumas surfaced more frequently. Around this time, my father was deported to Uruguay, and my brother began facing significant mental health and substance abuse issues.
Throughout my life, I found myself in a cycle of toxic relationships, stretching from my high school years into my thirties. I craved love and connection but lacked a clear understanding of what a healthy relationship should look like. I’ve experienced both financial stability in the corporate world and periods where I earned only $500 a month, doing whatever was necessary to make ends meet. I completed my Master’s degree and discovered my passions, yet faced numerous setbacks along the way.

Resilience is a complex concept. It’s often defined as the ability to recover from or adapt to adversity. This definition suggests that resilience is about being elastic, bending without breaking, but it’s crucial to recognize that surviving challenges does not mean emerging unscathed. The scars and wear from those struggles are real. Resilience is often romanticized as an ideal to strive for, but wouldn’t it be equally valuable to feel safe and secure, without the constant need to be resilient and find new ways to endure hardships? When I think about resilience now, I acknowledge that it is born out of struggle and hardship. It’s important to honor resilience, but also to have empathy for the difficulties that shaped it.

So, to circle back to the original question: Am I resilient? Perhaps. Have I made it through difficult times? Yes. Do I still carry the scars and pain from those experiences? Certainly. Have I lived a life filled with gratitude and growth? Absolutely.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

As a mental health therapist and coach, I am passionate about both healing and personal growth. I work with individuals and couples who are processing trauma, coping with depression and anxiety, or who simply wish to engage in deeper self-exploration and empowerment.

I am deeply invested in my own journey and find great fulfillment in helping others discover their unique paths to healing. For me, therapy is a collaborative process that involves redefining one’s authentic self. We delve into the past to better understand who we are and why we are the way we are. Together, we untangle the knots that have formed around our core selves. By addressing traumas, defense mechanisms, and fears, we can reconnect with our true sense of self. As trust in oneself strengthens, we can begin to build our future selves from a place of authenticity. In this way, healing becomes a process of becoming.

I view each client as unique, and together we explore the path to self-fulfillment through a combination of therapeutic modalities. My approach focuses on Parts Work/Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness practices, incorporating creative outlets as needed to support the client’s individual journey. For some, this might involve art therapy, psychedelic integration, somatic work, movement practices, embodiment exercises, or nature-based integration. The possibilities are endless. What excites me most about this work is the distinctive nature of each client and the opportunity to tailor the therapeutic process to their specific needs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Empathy
Empathy is the foundation of any therapeutic relationship. The ability to genuinely understand and feel what another person is experiencing allows clients to feel seen, heard, and validated. It fosters trust and creates a safe space for clients to explore their emotions and challenges.

Advice: To develop empathy, focus on active listening and being fully present with others. Practice putting yourself in others’ shoes without judgment and remember that each person has something to teach you. Meet the client where they are at, not where you think they should be. Reflect on your own experiences and how they’ve shaped your perspective. Interacting with diverse groups of people can also broaden your understanding and enhance your empathic abilities.

Adaptability
Every client is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Flexibility in your approach allows you to adapt to the specific needs of each client and to use different therapeutic techniques as appropriate. This adaptability is crucial in a field where each session can bring new challenges and insights. With adaptability, continued education is a must in a field that is always evolving.

Advice: Stay open-minded and be willing to adjust your methods as needed. Learn a variety of therapeutic approaches so you can tailor your interventions to the client’s needs. Reflect on your sessions to identify what is working and what might need to be adjusted, ask the client for feedback on this. Embrace change and be willing to step out of your comfort zone when necessary. Stay curious, never stop learning. Attend workshops, pursue certifications, read current research, and participate in professional development opportunities.

Patience
Therapy is a process that takes time, and progress can be slow and non-linear. There are waves of growth and periods of stillness – they both serve a purpose. Patience is crucial, both in your interactions with clients and in your own professional development. It allows you to maintain a supportive and non-judgmental stance, even when progress seems minimal or when clients are struggling with setbacks. Your support during these times are essential for fostering self-acceptance and self-forgiveness.

Advice: Cultivate patience by managing your expectations and focusing on the process rather than immediate results. Practice mindfulness to stay present and grounded during sessions. Remind yourself that therapy is a journey, and small steps forward are still progress. Recognize and celebrate the incremental changes in your clients, and be patient with your own growth as a therapist.

General Advice for Early Journey Therapists:

Seek Supervision: Regular supervision is invaluable for your growth as a therapist. It provides guidance, support, and a space to discuss challenging cases and personal reactions.
Practice Self-Care: The work can be emotionally demanding, so it’s essential to develop a strong self-care routine. This helps prevent burnout and ensures you can show up fully for your clients. Actually practice what you preach.
Cultivate Patience: Becoming a skilled therapist is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself as you develop your skills and grow into your role. Trust the process and remember that every experience, even the challenging ones, contributes to your development.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always eager to expand my local network and share knowledge about mental health. To further engage with our community, I’m looking to collaborate with business owners who are interested in offering their teams growth opportunities and support in mental health.

By raising awareness on key mental health topics through presentations and support groups we can equip individuals with the information they need to start living healthier, happier lives. I am also a creative, so any integration of mental health with art/photography/podcasts also speaks to me.

Too often, people suffer in silence and isolation, unaware that the challenges they face can be addressed. It is possible to create a stronger, more connected community—one that fosters well-being and builds a better tomorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soulfightcounseling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfight.counseling