Melody Chow, LICSW, LCSW
I passionately advocate for and provide direct mental health interventions to children and families using a multi-systems approach that is centered on racial equity and 2SLGBTQIA+ empowerment. As a therapist, my aim is to support clients through mental health struggles by connecting them to local resources and strengthening their natural safety nets.
My background is in documentary filmmaking, which I have used as a tool to advocate for social justice. Through my volunteer work with Basic Rights Oregon (https://www.basicrights.org/) and the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Oregon (https://sarcoregon.org/), two organizations that help people have their voices heard, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life further to helping others by becoming a therapist. I got my master’s of social work degree from Portland State University. My two internships were with the Beaverton School District as a school social worker intern and with the Native American Youth and Family Center as a parent-child support specialist intern. Upon graduation, I started working as a child and family therapist in Vancouver and made connections with the local resources specific to here.
My years of experience have honed my therapy practice to honor a child’s autonomy while also working with caregivers to ensure safety and mutual understanding. Narrative therapy is one lens I use, which helps clients differentiate themselves from their emotions in order to better manage them. This is a video I made to explain what narrative therapy is -- https://youtu.be/lnuqsufIFK8 .
I have a happy-go-lucky puppy named Hank who loves the outdoors and digging holes. My current favorite musical artists are Janelle Monae, Sam Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, and The Goat Rodeo Sessions. In my free time, I enjoy woodworking and tufting custom rugs. But probably my favorite thing to do in my free time is go out to eat. Top recommendations are Dough Zone and Ramen Ryoma in Portland!
Specialty: 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, Asian Americans, children of immigrant parents, overcoming religious trauma
I am best for people who: want a collaborator to help them develop their skills to handle life’s many stressors.
Telehealth status: Provides both in-person and telehealth
Insurance and Rates
Sliding Scale Info: case by case
Insurance Melody takes: Aetna, CHPW, Cigna, Coordinated Care, Kaiser, Moda, Molina, Premera, Providence PPO, Optum, Regence BCBS, RGA, UMR, UnitedHealth Care (commercial -not medicaid)