Hi, I’m Melody…
(She/Her)
I hold a Master of Social Work from Augsburg University and am a licensed social worker and licensed alcohol and drug counselor. I work with adults, teens, and pre-teens navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, and major life transitions — including people managing more than one of these at once.
Something brought you here. Maybe you've been carrying something heavy for longer than you can remember, repeating patterns you can't seem to break, or just living with a persistent sense that something is off — even if you can't quite name it. You may have even tried therapy before and walked away feeling like nothing really shifted. Don’t give up! It just means you haven't found the right fit yet.
Real change doesn't come from insight alone — it comes from finding an approach that meets you where you actually are. I draw from DBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy, and I tailor my approach to what genuinely fits you, not a predetermined protocol. My style is calm and unhurried. There's no pressure to have the right words or arrive with your story perfectly organized. People often tell me they feel less pressure in our work together than they have in other therapy settings — which matters most when you've felt stuck, shut down, or like nothing is really shifting. If you've been in therapy before and left feeling like something was missing, I'd like to try something different with you.
Outside of the office, you'll find me biking, reading, and almost always holding something warm to drink. I have kids, play instruments, and collect tattoos. I believe therapy works best when the person across from you feels like a real human being — and I show up for my clients as exactly that. Whoever you are right now — exhausted, skeptical, or cautiously hopeful — there's a place for that here.
To learn more about music therapy, visit https://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/.
Specialties
Addiction & Substance Use
Teen Issues
Trauma & PTSD
LGBTQ+ Issues
Anxiety
Attachment
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Coping Skills
Depression
Domestic Violence
Dual Diagnosis
Family of Origin Issues
Parenting
Pregnancy, Prenatal & Postpartum
Self-Esteem
Stress
Treatment Approaches
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Trauma Focused
Attachment-focused
Culturally Sensitive
Mindfulness-based
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Humanistic
Narrative Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Music Therapy
Person-Centered
Strengths-based
Education & Training
Licensed Graduate Social Worker
State of Minnesota, MN License #33639Masters of Social Work
Augsburg College, MinnesotaBachelor of Science—Music Therapy
Augsburg College, MinnesotaBoard Certified Music Therapist
Melody Cahoon is currently under clinical supervision with Heather Deveny-Leggitt.

