Melanie Ryan, LCSW

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Melanie Ryan and her husband Andy Steigmeier have been married for 19 years. Together they have overcome many of life's traumas including the sudden passing of their only child, Justin, who transitioned at the age of 15 from natural causes. Melanie and Andy live a simple and creative life, growing food and flowers at their home in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. Melanie Ryan is a writer, photographer, artist and spiritual psychotherapist who believes in the power of nature and our inherent wisdom to bring forth healing and transformation. 

 

Background

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Masters in Clinical Social Work and Clinical Research, Fordham University - 1995 

Bachelors in Psychology, University of Hartford - 1992

Member of The Center of Applied Jungian Studies Mystery School 2019 to present

Member of the Jungian Association of Western Massachusetts 2019 to present

Authorized Buddhist Teacher, Shambhala Tradition, NYC 2017

Naturopathic Apprentice, Terrain Model, Dr. Marizelle Arce, ND 2020 to present

Holistic Health Practitioner & Owner of The Center for Health & Healing 2012 to 2020

 

Other certifications include:

Certified Addiction Specialist (CASAC) 1995

Certified 200hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, 2005

Certified Past Life Regression Therapist, 2010

Certified in Herbalist, 2011

Certified Shamanic Reiki Master Teacher, 2015

Certified in Naturopathy, 2020

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Mission

 

To help people reconnect to the natural world and reach their full potential. To inspire people to find the courage and willingness to do the “inner work” of transformation and healing. To bring the soul back into psychotherapy. 

 

Philosophy

 

Melanie Ryan’s 30-year career has been dedicated to trauma and addiction recovery. She works holistically, highlighting the need to work with the soul because trauma is a wound to the soul and our symptoms are messengers of the soul. 

 

Trauma is universal to all humans. We all share the same story of having to face adversity. Most often we are unaware of our true potential until we are faced with life's challenges and through these challenges, we discover that we have sources of strength and wisdom inside of us. Melanie serves as a mentor for those who are stuck in the dark night of the soul. She helps individuals on their quest to find their true Self, their Buddhanature, which is a primordial source of strength, love, wisdom and creativity.

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Naturopathic Approach

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Melanie addresses the destructive patterns that undermine our full potential. She is extensively trained in naturopathy and reversing chronic diseases. What you eat, drink, and surround yourself with, impacts your physical and emotional well-being. Melanie Ryan sees the commonly overlooked malnutrition, toxicity, and unhealed trauma that is at the root of illness. Her method guides you in a purification process to help you restore your health and vitality.

 

Melanie’s Story

 

Melanie grew up in the suburbs of New York City during the 1970s in a middle-class family. She had very young parents who divorced when she was two years old. She experienced a chaotic childhood with a lot of domestic instability. Melanie suffered malnutrition, toxemia and trauma. She was often sick as a child then became chronically ill in her 20s and 30s. In 1999, she was taken on a spiritual retreat to a holistic health center and was introduced to many new ways of healing. This immersion in nature and holistic medicine opened doors to a new world and set her on a path of learning and healing. 

 

Melanie has been trained in many forms of healing. She began formally studying yoga, Buddhism and classical Shamanism in 2002. In 2007, she took her Buddhist vows with Acharya Judith Lief. After 12 years of training, Melanie was authorized to teach in the lineage of Shambhala founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan master from the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages. Melanie was privately mentored for ten years by David Nichtern and Derek Kolleeny who were both trained directly with CTR . Melanie has also studied with Acharya Pema Chödron, and currently studies with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, a teacher of the Bön Tibetan Tradition. 

 

In December 2012, Melanie woke up early in the morning from a dream. She had received a Vision of a holistic health center that she would create. The holistic health and healing center was the largest in the Hudson Valley of New York, winning awards and bringing healing to thousands of people. Melanie deepened her studies and learned from various teachers and traditions during that time. In 2019, she began receiving Visions to close the center and did so right before the pandemic. In 2020, she began to study naturopathy - Terrain Model - and has been in an intense and intimate apprenticeship with Dr. Marizelle Arce, ND. since. 

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Melanie travels the globe to rural areas and sacred sites to learn the ancient ways of healing from traditional people. She has studied with Mayan elders, Lakota, Apache, and Mohican natives. She has received shamanic initiations from Peruvian Q’ero shamans. Melanie continues to travel and study ancient healing, mythology, and ancestral diets so that she can share this wisdom with others.​

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