MEET YOUR coach

Melissa

I grew up in the wide, sun-soaked desert of southern Arizona, deeply connected to the land around me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. I was a tiny animist at heart, gathering plants, observing critters, and pouring my love into the animals on our little ranch. After moving to the city, I gradually rebuilt that connection, realigning myself with the rhythms of the seasons, the elements, and the beings around me. But it wasn’t until the summer of 2020—during a dark period of the pandemic and a season of record-breaking heat and wildfires—that I truly turned back to nature for support. As I watched the mountains burn from my home office while carrying the weight of my clients’ struggles, I found myself in need of grounding, connection, and healing. This survival instinct sparked an awakening that led me back to my roots in the natural world.

Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to training and exploring practices that deepen my connection to nature, including ecotherapy, Reiki, animism, and Somatic Experiencing. These experiences revealed a clear purpose: to help others find healing and safety within their own bodies and the grounding presence of the natural world. That’s what inspired me to create Wild Haven. My hope is to guide others in reconnecting with their own “nature selves,” fostering empowerment and growth. I believe that each person who heals in this way creates a ripple effect, contributing to a world that holds space for the highest good of all beings.