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

My practice specializes in therapy with people 60+ and caregivers (of all ages) facing things like chronic illness, grief, loneliness, compassion fatigue, and that feeling of becoming invisible as they age. People show up at all different points. Maybe retirement didn’t feel as free as you thought. Maybe your body isn’t doing what it used to. Maybe loss has left you lonelier than you expected. Or maybe you’re worn out from caregiving. Maybe you are a grandparent raising grandchildren. Others may be making impossible decisions about long-term care. Some people have done therapy before, and it helped. Others tried it, and it didn’t go anywhere, or they’ve just never been sure it was for them. All of that makes sense. I also care a lot about making a safe place for LGBTQ+ elders. Much of what they face is specific to aging itself. Worrying about being closeted again with a home health aide or in assisted living. Chosen family not always being let in the room when it matters. Caring for biological family who weren’t always accepting can stir up old wounds, even while you’re the one showing up for them. Some people isolate rather than risk a new doctor or aide not understanding. And for the AIDS generation, caring for people again, all these years later, can bring back a lot of old sorrow. Everyone is welcome here. The name Middle Way comes from the idea of finding a path between extremes. That fits aging and caregiving pretty well, I think. You’re so often forced to hold two very different things at once. If you are an older adult, it’s about accepting what has changed while still asking what is possible. It’s grieving what’s gone while noticing what is still here, and wanting to stay independent even as you realize you need people more than you used to. This balance is equally vital for caregivers. True care means supporting the person you love without losing sight of yourself and preserving your own wellbeing. Therapy isn't about choosing one side or forcing yourself to only look at the positive. It's about learning how to hold both realities at the same time. If you are trying to navigate these shifts, you don't have to figure it out alone. Together, we can work on finding your steady ground and helping you navigate your own middle way. My style is conversational, warm, and unhurried. Together, we will take an honest look at the difficult chapters you might be going through right now. That could mean processing a major loss, finding a little peace of mind through quiet reflection, or just sorting through the bigger questions about identity and what gives life meaning. I’m an older lesbian therapist, and I’m in-network with Traditional (Original) Medicare and Aetna Medicare Advantage, so cost is often less of a barrier than people expect. I keep my caseload small so I can be fully present with every person I see. We’ll talk about what’s going on, figure out what might help, and go at a pace that makes sense. The first few sessions are about getting to know each other and seeing if it feels like a good fit. If you have questions, call, email, or text. You don’t need to have anything figured out before reaching out.