In Person and Virtual Therapy for High-Stakes Professionals and Perfectionists in Ohio.

Melissa Foster, MSW, LISW-S, RYT

EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDR Consultant™, Registered Yoga Teacher and Founder of Fostering Fortitude

Melissa is accepting new clients for weekly/bi-weekly, and intensive therapy at this time.

Hi! I am Melissa Foster, the founder and owner of Fostering Fortitude Ohio.

Welcome to my Practice!

I specialize in working with high-risk, high-stakes professionals who struggle with perfectionism and the myriad challenges that come with it. My practice is dedicated to providing a warm, laid-back (but respectful), and non-judgmental environment where we can address these unique issues together. Whether you're dealing with setting boundaries, suffering from vicarious trauma, marital struggles, strained relationships with your children due to long work hours, or even the complexities of dating while being married to your job, I am here to help.

My approach is rooted in a Trauma and Polyvagal theory approach, which focuses on the impact of chronic stress and trauma on the nervous system. This often leads to fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, forming the basis for anxiety, depression, and dissociation. I see our sessions being collaborative, identifying past traumas or events, helping you regulate your nervous system, reestablishing safety within yourself and your environment, setting goals and boundaries, challenging thoughts, and empowering you to find your voice and truth. I am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™and utilize this approach with clients who are seeking relief from trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges that stem from distressing life experiences.

Given the physical impacts that trauma and anxiety can have on our bodies, I incorporate grounding tools and mindfulness techniques such as breath work, yoga, and meditation to bring awareness to the dysregulated body and help you out of a chronic fight/flight/freeze response.

Fun facts about me: My friends describe me as enthusiastic and passionate, I am a retired D1 athlete, a mom of two young kids and the spouse of a first responder. In my free time, you will find me hanging out with my family, running with my local run club, and playing with my awesome GoldenDoodle, Rosie.

I provide a ton of services to clients and the community at large. Subscribe to my monthly email blast to get the details!

- Melissa

  • Therapy for high risk, high stakes, high stress professionals, complex PTSD, attachment wounds, perfectionism, performance anxiety.

    Individual Therapy

    EMDR Therapy Intensives

    Group Therapy

    Critical Incident Response

    Online Therapy

  • Every training I take is specially chosen with you, my client or potential client, in mind.

  • Therapeutic Areas of Expertise: 

    Complex Trauma & PTSD:

    • Emotional neglect

    • Children of narcissistic parents

    • Religious shame/trauma

    • Chronic physical/sexual abuse

    • Shame/self-image issues

    • Vicarious, Secondary Trauma

    Anxiety Disorders:

    • Generalized anxiety

    • Performance Anxiety

    • Social anxiety

    • Specific phobias

    • Intrusive thoughts

    • Panic Attacks

    High-Risk, High-Stakes Professionals:

  • As a whole, my practice is trauma informed and polyvagal informed.

    • Somatic Psychotherapy

    • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - EMDR

    • Mindfulness-based psychotherapy

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Insomnia

  • MSW, The Ohio State University

    License: I.1700472-SUPV

    Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT):

  • EMDR Consultant™

    EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist

    LISW with Training Supervision Designation (Ohio)

    Affiliated, co-facilitator of EMDR basic training through the Institute of Creative Mindfulness, through Amber Stiles-Bodnar Consulting

  • Guide to EMDR Intensives

    Stress Management Plan

I Value

Authenticity ~ Compassion ~ Resilience

Rosie is a super friendly goldendoodle puppy, born in December 2023.  She is working really hard towards being a therapy dog one day. But for now, she is just our Therapy Dog Mascot.

She hopes to be finished with all her training and complete her tests by the end of 2025 and then will be available by request for in-office appointments and can always also make appearances during online sessions! Her favorite things currently include: going to puppy daycare, getting the zooms in the backyard, and meeting new people.

Feel free to ask about how she is doing in her training!

What’s On My Night Stand

What’s On My Hulu/Netflix