We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Griffing and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks has always been a struggle for me and I am a rule follower by nature. I’ve always been afraid to get “in trouble,” so stepping out of my comfort zone has never been my first instinct. After I finished my master’s, I was watching the other members of my cohort seek and obtain their dream jobs and they just seemed to succeed effortlessly. While I was doing okay, I knew I wanted more. So, I took a hard look at myself and realized I couldn’t be scared anymore. I had to take risks. I had to silence the voice that told me I couldn’t succeed. It’s like what Alberto tells Luca in the movie Luca, “Silencio Bruno!”

One day I came up with a mantra, “Be brave, take risks, and ask questions.” These were all the things that “Bruno” was holding me back from regularly. I was afraid to fail, so I didn’t try. I didn’t want to seem unintelligent or unprofessional, so I didn’t ask questions. And above all, I didn’t take healthy, calculated risks. I may not succeed at everything I try, but I succeed a lot more often than not. I still struggle with this today, but I have realized that I won’t achieve any of my dreams if I don’t take risks. And here I am now, starting my own business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my career as a 5th grade teacher working in a school that had a reputation of having students that suffered from behavioral issues. After my first year of teaching, I realized how hard it was to teach the core subjects when the kids’ basic needs were not being met. It was then that I decided to go back to school to get my master’s in counseling. As I journeyed through my master’s program, I found my niche in the family system. I love working with kids and parents and found great joy in teaching parents new tools in parenting and helping kids manage those big emotions.

While I was in my master’s program, I became a parent myself. I learned firsthand how challenging it can be. Parenting is so hard. When it comes to raising a child, there are so many different schools of thought in terms of what the best practices are to employ. As parents, we doubt ourselves and wonder if we have made the best choices for our kids. I know I personally struggle myself with my own three kids. It is a journey that has ultimately led me to create WellNest Counseling.

At WellNest I strive to bring peace back into the homes of families in DFW. I hold have acquired several certifications that allow me to help families in a unique way. I specialize in working with pre- and postnatal moms. I am there to help families cope with all the emotions that come with starting or adding to a family. I am also a certified Registered Play Therapist which allows me to hold therapy sessions with children ages 2-18.

One of my favorite therapies to do is parent training. While a lot of therapists may dread working alongside parents, I thrive in it. I believe that as a parent you are the expert of your child and that I am the expert in child development. I work closely with each family to help everyone meet the family’s goals.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our family loves to try new things. We are passionate about travel and experiencing other cultures. When friends or family come to visit us, we try our best to show them a good time. Usually, the people who visit us have young kids of their own, so our activities are mostly geared towards entertaining children and toddlers. The Dallas Arboretum is one of my favorite places to take friends. We usually start by exploring the children’s garden, playing in the water fountain, and ending with a picnic lunch on the big hill that overlooks the lake. However, when it gets too hot in the summer, one of my go-to places is the Dallas Aquarium. It’s perfect because it’s indoors and the kids love looking at all the animals, especially the shark tunnel!

Most people that visit us request a good Tex-Mex restaurant. Our go-to place is Mi Cocina! They have a good bar for the adults and a great kid’s menu. I have been going to the same location since I was a kid myself, so the nostalgia is strong and it’s fun seeing our kids run around the restaurant just like I did when I was young. If we are feeling super adventurous, we might make a trip out to Fort Worth to see the cattle drive or head out to Waco and visit Magnolia Market. Dallas has so much to offer, it can be hard to narrow down the options. But I find that the activity typically doesn’t matter as long as the company is good and everyone is up to try something new!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had so many cheerleaders along the way. My husband, first of all. He has never said, “no” to anything I have ever wanted to do. My mom has always been in my corner. My supervisor, Misty, was and still is my mentor, friend, and teacher. I will be forever grateful for her guidance.

Website: www.wellnestcounseling.com

Instagram: @wellnestcounseling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnestcounseling

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/melissa-griffing-dallas-tx/880789

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.