a modern, refined therapy approach
Trauma-informed care designed for women rooted in Montana and the Mountain West. Whether you're in the heart of the Rockies or the quiet of the plains, I offer a compassionate, telehealth-based space to transform survival into true, grounded living.
Meet Your Therapist
Melissa Sandford LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Healing from trauma is more than a mental process—it’s a physical one. As a specialist in sexual trauma recovery, I help you reconnect with your sense of safety from the inside out. We will work at a pace that feels comfortable to you, to process experiences, steady your nervous system and bridge the gap between surviving and truly living—allowing you to move through the world feeling present and empowered. The women I work with often report feeling significant relief within the first session or two.
There is a life waiting for you beyond survival
The Disconnect: You feel like you’re observing your life from a distance—foggy, numb, or detached from the present moment. It's as if you’re floating away from your own experiences.
The Constant Alert: Your guard is up, even when you’re safe. You live "braced" for the next thing to go wrong, leaving you exhausted and unable to find true rest.
The Echo of the Past: Memories show up uninvited. Even though you’ve tried to move on, your nervous system remains tethered to the past, reacting to things that are no longer there.
The Relational Barrier: You want deeper connections, but trust and intimacy feel overwhelming or triggering. You’re tired of unintentionally pushing others away or feeling isolated, even when you’re with people you love.
The Inner Critic: You carry a heavy sense of shame, feeling as though your body betrayed you or that you are somehow "broken." Your internal voice says things to you that it would never say to anyone else.
© 2026 Melissa Sandford
I specialize in helping women navigate the specific aftermath of sexual trauma. You might recognize yourself in one—or many—of these experiences:
A more grounded, balanced way of living starts here.
Healing from sexual trauma requires a specialized approach that honors both the mind and the body. With deeper understandings and effective skill-building we clear the way for you to feel free and show up fully in your own life again.
EMDR
Trauma can leave the past feeling like it’s still happening. We use EMDR to 'unstick' distressing memories, allowing your brain to store them as neutral history rather than active, painful events. This reduces the emotional charge and the intensity begins to fade, leaving you free to inhabit the present.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
We work to identify and dismantle the unhepful thoughts like shame, self-blame, or the feeling of being broken—that trauma often leaves behind. These old scripts aren’t telling the whole story and they hurt, we will replace them with a narrative reflective of your actual strength, worth, and resilience.
Somatic Processing
Because trauma is a physical experience, healing must be too. Through somatic work and gentle breathing techniques, we learn to 'listen' to patterns of bracing, tension, or numbness. By gently processing these physical remnants, we teach your body that the threat is over, allowing you to finally settle into a genuine, internal sense of safety.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Healing requires a vision of where you are going. SFBT keeps our work anchored in the present and aimed at the future. We identify the small, meaningful changes that lead to a balanced life, ensuring that every session leaves you with more clarity, a steadier sense of self, and a deeper trust in your ability to navigate the world.
Next Steps
Find Your Way Forward
There is no need to wait until you have it all figured out. Whenever you’re ready, I’d be glad to hear from you.
