Melanie Forman is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a graduate of the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. She has eight years of experience in the mental health field, including providing sex and intimacy therapy and working in communities that support adults living with serious mental illness. Melanie offers therapy for those who are curious about understanding themselves more deeply and want to feel more grounded in their lives and relationships. Many of us may feel successful in certain areas of life, yet still find ourselves caught in familiar emotional patterns—feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure why certain dynamics feel painful or difficult to change. Melanie helps clients slow down, become curious about what is happening beneath the surface, and move through the shame that can keep us feeling stuck.

Specializations & Expertise

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• Love Addiction & Attachment Wounds: Understanding compulsive relational patterns and how early attachment can shape adult intimacy.

• Somatic & Embodiment Work: Paying attention to what is happening in the body, not just the mind.

• Intimacy & Relationship Challenges: Exploring vulnerability, connection, communication, and the dynamics that can impact relationships.

• Anxiety, Shame & Self-Worth: Supporting clients in reconnecting with their authentic values, emotional needs, and boundaries while developing a more secure sense of self.

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Therapeutic Approach

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Melanie’s integrative framework includes:

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• Internal Family Systems (IFS): Understanding the different parts of yourself with curiosity rather than judgment.

• Attachment-Based Theories: Exploring how past relationships and experiences continue to shape the way you connect with yourself and others.

• Inner Child Work: Exploring younger parts of yourself and the experiences that may continue to influence your emotions, relationships, and sense of self today.

• Harm Reduction Strategies: Meeting clients where they are and supporting realistic, sustainable change that aligns with their values.

• Somatic & Embodiment Work — Building awareness of the body as an important part of the therapeutic process.

• Shame Reduction: Creating space to talk honestly about the parts of yourself that may have felt difficult to name or share.

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Education & Credentials

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• Master of Social Work (LMSW): Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Specialization in Mental Health

• BA in Psychology: Penn State University

• Licensed: New York State and New Jersey

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Why Work With Melanie?

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Melanie wants therapy to be a place where you can be honest about what is actually going on, without needing to perform or have all the answers. Her approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded, with space for deeper exploration as well as to process the realities of everyday life.

Melanie believes that approaching ourselves with curiosity and compassion can create room for change. Together, the work can help you feel less controlled by old patterns and more connected to yourself, your relationships, and the people in your life.

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Melanie Offers Therapy For:

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• Individuals exploring vulnerability, intimacy, and relationship challenges

• Clients wanting a deeper understanding of shame, attachment, and emotional patterns

• Those seeking an open, grounded space to process life transitions and better understand how they move through the world

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Key Highlights: Specialist in men’s sexual addiction and OCSB, experienced in betrayal trauma and integrity-focused work, group therapy leader, humanistic and strengths-based practitioner.

Interested in Working with Melanie?