Melissa Arias Shah

As a Professor, Dr. Arias Shah provides guidance and affordance that enables students to synthesize learning into a coherent view of systems and become self-directed learners meeting course objectives through feedback and feedforward in both Master and Doctoral level courses. She has developed rigorous course curriculums measuring course objectives (e.g., critical thinking of course materials) that are dedicated to enhancing a positive learning experience through feedback and feedforward. As a clinical supervisor, Dr. Arias Shah aims to help MFT supervisees become ethical, competent clinicians who develop a sense of self for the therapist and are cognizant of their relationship to systems. To achieve her purpose as a supervisor, she considers the roles she may play for her interns, such as a coach, teacher, administrator, or mentor (Lee & Nelson, 2014). She is interested in exploring with the supervisees their concepts on systems, change, and communication, reflecting their theoretical framework. Furthermore, she looks forward to building a working alliance with the supervisees, respecting them as unique individuals, being mindful of culture, diversity, and language in contextualizing their work and professional development, collaborating with them in developing their professional and clinical goals accordingly, as it is vital to the supervisory relationship. Moreover, as the gatekeeper of the supervisees, the primary goal is to collaborate and facilitate their development into competent, confident, lawful, and ethical therapists by assisting them to gain a sense of confidence, understanding the value of not working in a vacuum (need to keep collegial relationship), embrace a theoretical framework, develop an awareness of self and systems and the interactive effects on another (their ideas of client’s story, their own experiences related to client’s story and how they manage the therapy process (Lee & Nelson (2014)), to be mindful of their therapeutic language (circular versus linear), understand the implications of the laws and ethics involved in their cases including their administrative work competency, and master their therapeutic approach. To achieve this, Dr. Arias Shah is mindful of how to challenge the supervisees and be supportive (Goldenthal, 1994). As a clinician and founder of Enso Minds, Dr. Arias Shah offers services to individuals, families, and couples. She has vast experiences working with clients on, but not limited to, processing and coping with divorce, breaking the chains of depression, adjusting to life transitions, developing insight and self-reflection, improving communication skills, alleviating anxiety symptoms, developing stress and anger management skills, enhancing parenting skills, addressing marital discord identifying solutions within a language that creates change for the couple, working through dual diagnosis, processing grief, and empowering sexual abuse victims. Dr. Arias Shah focuses on strengths and change. She understands that relationships are the core element in our lives, and strong relationships mean security, confidence, and resiliency. her mission is to transform relationships as she collaborates with her clients to discover their solutions.