Meet Melissa Graham

Explain your position with DCAC: 

As a therapist, my job is primarily working face-to-face with children and their non-offending caregivers. We use evidence-based therapy practices to assess, diagnose, and treat symptoms of trauma. Our goal is always to help kids feel better and decrease trauma symptoms! Treatment empowers kiddos and their caregivers with coping skills and processing thoughts and feelings about their traumatic experience, and finding ways they can stay safe in the future!

What led you to work at DCAC:

I found my way to DCAC during my master’s program at SMU. Throughout my program I remember professors asking us to share our “heck no” populations (the ones we didn’t see ourselves working with) …mine was always children. I had heard wonderful feedback about the training components of DCAC’s internship program and decided to challenge myself to work with my “heck no” population. My internship was amazing and clinically challenging in the best way. I could not stop singing the praises of DCAC to the other students in my cohort.

After my internship, I worked for a private practice with a wide variety of clients, but I found myself missing the people and the work at DCAC. Most of all I missed my clients, my kiddos! I returned as a full-time Therapist at DCAC in February 2020. I feel so thankful I chose to challenge myself because choosing DCAC was absolutely one of the best decisions of my life. 

Tell us about someone who has influenced you or a mentor who has helped the most in your career: 

 My Mom is my biggest role model and I’m so proud to be her daughter. As a teacher of over 30 years (!!!), she has impacted so many lives and taught me the true meaning of compassion.

How do you enjoy spending your time when you are not working: 

 I love traveling and spending time with friends. During pandemic times I’ve picked up embroidery, so I do that most nights while binge-watching Ted Lasso and The Great British Baking Show.

 What is the one thing you are most proud of about your job:

 I’m incredibly grateful and proud of the team that works at DCAC. It’s clear that every single employee truly believes our core values (children first, seamless team, servants’ heart). When I come to work I know I’m walking into an environment where every person, from our front desk staff to our CEO, is willing and ready to jump in and help.

Favorite quote that inspires you personally: 

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” – Brene Brown

Your go-to karaoke song:

All the Small Things- Blink-182