We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Shaw recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

My sister was dying and to say that she left things in disarray would be an understatement. She was stuck in a hospital for months, by herself in another state and we had none of the right paperwork to help or step in the way we needed to. I’ll spare you the details of the people that tried to take advantage of the situation, the way we FINALLY got the power of attorney signed, and what we had to do to get her home. I’ll just say that it left me feeling like a washed ashore, nearly dead, and exhausted version of myself. I was so ready to resign, but the end was near and I still had a tiny bit of gas left in the car.

I found someone who would rent my sister’s house, which was on the other side of the country, as is so that we could keep the mortgage afloat. I thought we had hit the finish line, but when the renter moved in, the garage door fell off the track and we learned that we needed a whole new door. When the repair man told me the fix was $3000, my stomach dropped. Everyone in my family had already chipped in $1000s and it seemed that there was no end in sight. I started to cry and in that moment, I surrendered. I gave up. I sent the repairman home and I was thinking of just letting the house go.

Later that day the owner of the garage company called me up. He asked me about my situation. He acknowledged how hard things were. He said, “life’s been really hard for a whole lot of people. What we need in this world is a little more kindness. It sounds like you could use some of that kindness right now.” That man, on the other side of the country, whom I had never met and never spoke to again, bought us a garage door. He installed it, paid for all materials, and did a great job. He only asked that I pass the kindness on.

It wasn’t just that he saved us money, it was that he saw my exhaustion and knew I needed a break. He offered me kindness, love, support, and validation. He gave me the energy to keep going and so I could do what was best for my sister and her family in her final days. I’m left with a certainty that people make a difference no matter if they repair garage doors or heal wounds. It’s not about what you do, it’s about who you are.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a therapist who specializes in couples counseling, trauma, and anxiety. I LOVE what I do. I have an adventurous soul and I often bring that sense of adventure into my work. Though I’ve learned a lot, I don’t follow a specific model. I follow my heart.

In the last few years, I’ve opened a group practice as a way to create community, and teach others to break out of the mold as they step into their own individual style. I now have a team of amazing therapists that are passionate about what they do. When we’re all together, we grow, laugh, share, and support each other in this hard and amazing career.

I guess you could say that I’ve been primed for this path since I was very young. I have two adopted sisters who were in and out of my life since I was 2. I understood trauma at a very young age. From there I went on to be a wilderness counselor for 3 years for troubled teens-probably because I had been one myself. This was the start of my path to helping others heal.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Authenticity. It doesn’t matter how many certifications I have…the more “me” I can be, the better the therapist I am. I don’t try to pretend I’m someone I’m not. When you come in, you get the real deal. And, my favorite, I LOVE teaching other therapists to also be themselves.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Sometimes therapists get a bad rap because people are afraid they’ll just sit there and say, “tell me how that felt” over and over. That’s the exact opposite of what we do. We roll up our sleeves and aren’t afraid to get down to business. We help people find their truth…their voice. We help people step into the best versions of themselves using their own inner wisdom. We aren’t afraid to guide, direct or stand-down. With this approach, our clients are motivated to do the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: knotcounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knottherapyonline/
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