Our Therapists
Melanie Seipp, MA, LMFT, Owner
Melanie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and she has been practicing psychotherapy for the past 9 years. For the last 7 years, she has been providing counseling services in Winsted, Howard Lake, and the surrounding areas, and 4 years ago, she started Encourage Counseling Services to expand mental health services in the area. Melanie has a Master’s degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy from Adler Graduate School in Minnetonka, Minnesota. She currently works with adults, adolescents, couples, families, and first responders. Melanie has expertise working with a variety of mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, behavioral concerns, childhood trauma, post-traumatic stress, grief and loss, codependency, relationship issues, and family estrangement.
Melanie specializes in trauma-focused treatment approaches. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) which is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress and distressing life events. EMDR has also been shown to help with anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, childhood abuse and neglect, and more. Melanie also uses treatment approaches from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. Melanie places importance on building feelings of safety and trust, and she believes these are essential to growth, healing, meaningful relationships, and a high quality of life.
Victoria Godnyuk, MA, LPCC
Victoria is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She has been practicing psychotherapy for the last 7 years and has her Masters degree from Bethel University. Victoria has experience with children, adolescents, adults and families in addressing a wide array of mental health concerns including life transitions, relationships, attachment, grief, trauma, shame, depression and anxiety. She is passionate about connecting with individuals and working with them toward their own goals.
Victoria’s therapeutic approach is based in the belief that each person is doing the best they can with what they have and they are the experts of their lives. She believes her role as a therapist is to support clients in exploring, reflecting and building resources to cultivate meaningful relationships, increasing resiliency and to live a fulfilling life.
She uses techniques rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, motivational interviewing, attachment theory, mindfulness, narrative therapy, and experiential non-directive play therapy. Victoria is also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidence-based treatment for psychological trauma and depression.
Christina Muraski, MA, LMFT, RPT
Christina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is a graduate of Adler Graduate School where she obtained her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Christina specializes in working with very young children from birth and up to the age of 12 using play therapy and parent-child therapy modalities. Christina is a Registered Play Therapist and believes that play therapy offers a way to empower children and provides a space for them to heal from traumatic experiences, express their emotions in productive ways, and feel encouraged to move beyond their difficult situations, and all through their natural language which is PLAY. Christina partners with children and their caregivers to strengthen their relationship and provides support when caregivers need guidance in parenting. Christina has a special interest in working with children in foster care and children who have been adopted.
Christina is also passionate about working with adults and couples giving individuals a safe and supportive space to heal and create a better life for themselves. She has special interests in helping others heal from trauma including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, codependency and navigating conflict and helping improve the quality of their relationships. Christina specializes in using trauma-focused treatment approaches and is certified in EMDR which is an evidenced based treatment for processing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, distressing life experiences, mood disorders, and anxiety and depression.
Christina is also bilingual in American Sign Language, values Deaf culture, and has many years of experience working with children and families with hearing loss.
