Melinda Halford MA, LCMHC

Having been born and raised in the Swannanoa Valley, Melinda has been grateful to be able to help others in her own community. Before relocating her office to Swannanoa in 2017, she counseled individuals and families as an intern and Contract-Counselor for five years at Biltmore Church in Arden, NC. But the salt life would soon call her and her family to trade the mountains for the coast of South Carolina at the end of 2021.

​

Though no longer a resident in NC, Melinda is still very much involved in the Asheville area and counsels clients from all over NC. She enjoys working with adolescents and adults dealing with family or relational issues as well as those having difficulty transitioning from one phase of life to the next.

 

Melinda earned her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2013 and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montreat College in 2010. Melinda is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the State of North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of South Carolina.

 

Melinda recognizes that change, both positive and negative, can invite stress into a person’s life, and in combination with other stressors, can make it difficult to move forward. Sometimes, the way we perceive these changes can adversely affect our behavior and cause problems, which is the central idea of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  Melinda integrates components of CBT along with her life experiences, Christian worldview, and professional training in counseling to help individuals clarify needs and reach goals.