Elizabeth "Elspeth" Mellin (she/her), PhD, LMHC, LPC, ACS

I’m a lesbian therapist who works with older adults and caregivers. Many of my clients are LGBTQ+, but the practice is open to anyone. I work with people dealing with chronic illness and pain, retirement and other life changes, grief and widowhood, loneliness, caregiving, changes in relationships and family, and the question of what comes next. Sometimes there is simply a feeling of becoming less visible as life gets older. As a lesbian and an LGBTQ+ therapist, I have a particular understanding of some of the experiences LGBTQ+ older adults may have lived through. That can include being told that being queer was something wrong with them, losing people during the AIDS crisis, or building a chosen family because their family of origin wasn’t safe or accepting. These are experiences that don’t need a lot of explanation here. At the same time, being LGBTQ+ is only one part of anyone’s life. Therapy might include talking about relationships, family, aging, health, sex, loneliness, joy, loss, or whatever else is going on. I’m also a hospice volunteer, which has given me experience being with people around death, grief, and end-of-life questions. The name Middle Way comes from a Buddhist idea about finding a way between extremes. That idea fits aging pretty well. There can be a lot to hold at the same time: accepting what has changed while still asking what is possible; grieving what has been lost while noticing what is still here; wanting to stay independent while also needing other people. For caregivers, it can mean caring deeply for someone else while also figuring out how to take care of themselves. It can mean looking back at the life that has been lived while still figuring out what comes next. There aren’t always good answers to these things. Sometimes therapy is simply a place to slow down and work out how to live with what is true. Clients come in at all kinds of starting points. Someone may have retired and thought they would feel more free, but instead feels unsure about who they are now. Someone may be dealing with a body that isn’t doing what it used to do. Someone may have lost a partner or close friends and find that life feels much quieter than it once did. A caregiver may be exhausted from being the person who holds everything together. Some people have been in therapy before and found it helpful. Others have tried it and felt like it didn’t go anywhere, or have never been sure therapy was for them. All of these are reasonable places to start. The first few sessions are a chance to get to know each other and see whether the relationship feels like a good fit. I keep my caseload small so I can be present with the people I work with. My approach is pretty straightforward. We’ll talk about what’s going on, figure out what might actually help, and make room for deeper work when it seems useful. I’m not interested in rushing anyone toward a big breakthrough. Middle Way Therapy offers support for older adults, caregivers, and LGBTQ+ clients navigating grief, chronic illness, aging, relationships, and other changes in life. Questions are welcome by phone or text, and there is no need to have everything figured out before reaching out.