Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Alford-Snyder.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Christian, mom of two adult kids and pastor’s daughter who got my counseling license in 1999 and began my career as a community-based therapist. I worked in primarily urban area homes and schools, focusing on kids and teens. My career path since however has had multiple twists and turns, primarily due my desire to make my family my priority.
Starting my own company in 2017, Joy Educational Services, was another move made to accommodate the needs of my family. My then 14 years old son became unable to attend school. He developed post-concussive syndrome, experiencing daily migraines, and sometimes unable to even get out of bed.
I had to find a way to contribute financially to my family while transitioning to taking care of my son’s medical and educational needs at home.
What came out of the need to work from home was me teaching classes and workshops online to kids, teens and adults. My classes primarily focus on anxiety education and anxiety reduction. I teach some secular classes through Outschool, though my heartbeat is with the classes I teach for Christians who battle anxiety.
I use social media to provide free anxiety education and strategies, as well to encourage others with my own journey to being free from daily anxiety.
Finally, I work with individuals 1:1 online. My services range from consultations to weekly sessions, focusing on anxiety education, anxiety reduction strategies, and getting to a place of being free from daily anxiety.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My path to where I am today has been such a winding road, with many twists and unexpected turns.
One of my biggest battles was my failure to recognize my own severe anxiety. I was diagnosing and treating others while thinking of myself as someone who just wasn’t a “natural relaxer”.
I helped others who were living in destructive and abusive homes while not seeing I was doing the same.
When I compared my situation to my childhood home and the thousands of families I worked with, my ongoing emotional abuse didn’t seem that bad.
This lack of self-awareness to the abuse and anxiety still blows my mind. I can recall checking in with a counseling group member who had shared about her partner going weeks without speaking to her or even acknowledging her presence. As I offered her comfort, I never once consciously thought about how I had grown up with the same destructive behavior and was currently living with that same emotional abuse.
As is God’s promise however, every challenge that could have destroyed me and my children has worked together for our good. I pray I can help others do the same.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Joy Educational Services LLC?
Since 2017, I’ve been providing classes, workshops and 1:1 sessions for those who want to know more about anxiety and anxiety reduction.
This year, I’ve started the process of teaching a series of workshops for Christians who want to learn more about anxiety, anxiety reduction strategies and how to work in ministry with others who battle daily anxiety. I’ve done one live series and have started working on creating these workshops in an online video format.
While most of my career has been in secular settings, my primary focus now is working with Christians who battle daily anxiety. Religion has often denied a need for mental health assistance if you’re a “real” Christian.
I hope to normalize mental health struggles for all human beings, which of course includes Christians. It’s also my goal to provide an entry point for those who are scared or ashamed to get mental health support.
What does success mean to you?
Success is simply fulfilling God’s will for my life. We all have a purpose, a calling. My life will be a success when I have done my part to reach those who are needlessly suffering from the crippling effects of daily anxiety.
Contact Info:
- Email: anxietymedic@gmail.com
- Website: www.anxietymedic.info
- Instagram: @anxiety_medic
- Facebook: @AnxietyMedic
