Melanie Goetz
LMFT
Licensed in the state of CA
Accepts new patients
Meet Melanie Goetz
Somatic Attachment Therapist specializing in Complex-PTSD and Inner Child wounds | EMDR & DARe Cert.
I'm Melanie Goetz, a marriage and family therapist in North County San Diego, improving my community one person, one couple at a time. It is my deepest intention to journey with you towards a life of authenticity, experiencing a deep respect for all your parts, supported by nurturing relationships in the real world who cherish the real you.
At Upward Roots: Relational Therapy, I create a space where you're deeply heard and supported, whether in-person or virtually. My approach honors your personal experiences, focusing on how you show up in relationship with yourself within past and present friendships, family dynamics, and romantic relationships. By integrating EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment theory, and parts work with individuals, and PACT and Gottman Method with couples, I help you unlock your inner resilience to better navigate life's relational and safety challenges with courage, presence, and grace.
With experience ranging from equipping foster and adoptive parents with skills to create safety for their children, to teaching their children how to regulate the intensity of their protective strategies, to processing the traumatic events around arrests with teenagers in a Juvenile Detention Center, and finally, to supporting the deep processing of inner child wounds and traumatic events with individual adults and the implications of trauma on romantic relationships in private practices. My journey equips me to self-regulate and truly keep my heart’s ears attuned while remaining centered in personal intuition and wisdom as we work through the challenges you’re facing.
Ready to dive into healing and growth at our nervous system’s pace? I'm here to walk with you, to nurture your inner strength, to dig deep and rewrite your story. Let's make a healthier life your new reality where you are no longer haunted by the past and are free to define who you are to the world for yourself. I can’t wait to celebrate your victories.
At Upward Roots: Relational Therapy, I create a space where you're deeply heard and supported, whether in-person or virtually. My approach honors your personal experiences, focusing on how you show up in relationship with yourself within past and present friendships, family dynamics, and romantic relationships. By integrating EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment theory, and parts work with individuals, and PACT and Gottman Method with couples, I help you unlock your inner resilience to better navigate life's relational and safety challenges with courage, presence, and grace.
With experience ranging from equipping foster and adoptive parents with skills to create safety for their children, to teaching their children how to regulate the intensity of their protective strategies, to processing the traumatic events around arrests with teenagers in a Juvenile Detention Center, and finally, to supporting the deep processing of inner child wounds and traumatic events with individual adults and the implications of trauma on romantic relationships in private practices. My journey equips me to self-regulate and truly keep my heart’s ears attuned while remaining centered in personal intuition and wisdom as we work through the challenges you’re facing.
Ready to dive into healing and growth at our nervous system’s pace? I'm here to walk with you, to nurture your inner strength, to dig deep and rewrite your story. Let's make a healthier life your new reality where you are no longer haunted by the past and are free to define who you are to the world for yourself. I can’t wait to celebrate your victories.
Accepts new patients
My philosophy
All of my work is trauma-informed following the organization of EMDR through a somatic attachment lens, with a curiosity about your parts and how they show up and what they're trying to achieve, identifying and practicing healthier available ways of meeting needs to live a life of purpose and integrity.
I see it as my responsibility to ensure while we're digging deep and attending to your emotional and relational pain, we don't sprint toward danger and overwhelm your system. We'll expand visits of felt-safety through movement, creativity, playfulness, and sometimes recalling moments of pleasant connection, or perhaps through guided meditation to explore what it would be like to have such a person present in that moment of pain.
I see it as my responsibility to ensure while we're digging deep and attending to your emotional and relational pain, we don't sprint toward danger and overwhelm your system. We'll expand visits of felt-safety through movement, creativity, playfulness, and sometimes recalling moments of pleasant connection, or perhaps through guided meditation to explore what it would be like to have such a person present in that moment of pain.
My treatment approaches
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Somatic Approaches
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy
• Psychobiological Couples Therapy (PACT)
• Parts Work Integration, Innter Relational Focusing
• EMDR Therapy, Certified
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention
• Dynamic Attachment Reprocessing (DARe), Certified
I specialize in treating individuals with:
Mental Health
I provide professional care to people with the following conditions:
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Bipolar disorders
Relationship issues
Trauma
Services & Pricing
Transparent pricing for quality care
Choose the right type of service based on your needs and budget without compromising on the quality of care you receive.
Initial Visit
An initial visit involves a medical history review including therapy experience, a brief review of family members and relational satisfaction, and a discussion of the therapeutic relationship and your goals and desires for therapy. We'll also begin an assessment of your specific symptoms and concerns, and possible diagnosis with you as the expert. We will name a potential roadmap for working together that will adapt as necessary.
Availability: M/W/Th on Zoom, T in Cardiff, F in Carlsbad, 7-3:30
WHAT’S INCLUDED
50 mins session
Video or in-person visits
$195 /visit
Accept sliding scale
Rates shown are out-of-pocket costs. With eligible insurance, you may pay less than the listed rate. Please check with your insurance provider for an estimate.
Follow-up Visit
We will continue to work together towards your goals in the way that is most encouraging, supportive, and impactful, while also considering your sense of stability or stress in day-to-day life.
Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 7-3:30 on Telehealth, Tuesdays 7-12:30 in-person in Cardiff, and Fridays 7-3:30 in-person in Carlsbad.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
50 mins session
Video or in-person visits
$195 /visit
Accept sliding scale
Rates shown are out-of-pocket costs. With eligible insurance, you may pay less than the listed rate. Please check with your insurance provider for an estimate.
Free Consultation Call
An opportunity for us to speak briefly about what brings you to therapy at this time, and, why you're interested in attachment-based somatic trauma therapy, whether as an individual or as a couple, with me specifically. During the phone call I'll hear what is happening for you presently to get an idea if I feel confident in my ability to support your healing journey, and, you'll have a chance to ask me any burning questions before scheduling a first session.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
15 mins session
Video visits only
Free
Experiences
My education and work experiences
Work
The Gathering Counseling
Graduate Counselor Intern - Internship
Jun 2016 - May 2018
Taught children regulatory strategies and appropriate self-ownership utilizing Emotion Coaching and Trust Based Relational Intervention, a model created for kids from hard places, specifically the foster system.
Utilized EMDR Standard Protocol with teenagers in Juvenile Detention Center, and adults at a Community Clinic to process individual events.
Offered Gottman Method communication skill building to couples in distress.View all
Leeke Magee Christian Counseling Center
Practicum Student and Counselor - Internship
Jan 2016 - Jun 2016
Worked with students at the college, offering Emotion Coaching and EMDR for individual events.
Also worked with women at a partnering rehabilitation center to help address life factors that substances helped numb, to ensure better preparedness for re-entry into the community. View all
Novata Center for Autism Research, Evaluation & Service
Behavioral Tutor, Registered Behavior Technician - Full-time
Nov 2013 - Jan 2015
Helped teach daily skills including hygiene, eating, and socialization through play and strict protocols, partnering with other ABA technicians, often offering daily in-home services.View all
Show all work experiences
Education
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Master of Marriage and Family Counseling - Trauma, Crisis, Kids from Hard Places
Jan 2015 - May 2018
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Master of Christian Apologetics
Jun 2017 - Dec 2018
Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, CO
Bachelor of Psychology, Minor in Leadership
Aug 2009 - Dec 2012
Show all education experiences
Get the support you need with a personalized treatment plan and flexible scheduling online or in person.
Ratings & Reviews
Here is what my patients said about me
98%
of patients said
“I feel better now after the treatment“
83%
of patients said
“I was treated with good care and respect“
93%
of patients said
“I understood the treatment plan“
Melanie did a great job of informing me about my options and was able to answer my questions about medications. I look forward to my follow-up with Melanie.
Appointment types
I accept both in-person and video visits
In-person visit
Video visit
Areas I serve
Visit me at:
By invitation only
2945 Harding Street, Suite 203-B, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Get direction
How to prepare for video visits and what to expect?
For a video visit, you will need a computer or smartphone equipped with a camera and microphone. Prior to your appointment, please use the link provided in your confirmation email to ensure that your device is compatible with the video visit. If you're using an iPhone, it's recommended that you access the visit through the Safari browser for optimal performance.