Nyx Melody, M.A., Ed.M., LMHC-D (they/fae)

Nyx Melody, M.A., Ed.M., LMHC-D (pronouns: they/them/theirs & fae/faer/faers) is a queer, panromantic, non-binary, trans femme New York State licensed mental health counselor, clinical supervisor, professor and consultant on anti-oppression, mental health, gender/sexuality, and LGBTQIA+ issues. They have had experience working with individuals, couples, families and groups who are struggling with various issues, including but not limited to: trauma/abuse, gender/sexual identity, anxiety, depression, substance use, acculturation, racial identity exploration, and dismantling internalized inferiority and/or superiority.

Nyx graduated from the Point Park University with a bachelor's degree in Psychology where they completed a research study regarding the ongoing coming out process for queer men. Nyx completed a dual masters degree: Masters of the Arts in Psychological Counseling and a Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, where fae took extensive course work and engaged in research initiatives surrounding queer and gender expansive microaggressions/mental health concerns.

Nyx completed a clinical internship at Mount Sinai West - The Addictions Institute of New York working primarily with the Crystal Clear Project that assisted queer and TGNC clients with crystal methamphetamine dependence. Nyx started their career working with children and adolescents with functional feeding difficulties, eating disorders, conduct disorders, body dysmorphia, and neurodivergence while supporting various programs at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. Nyx pivoted to working with adult clients who had mental health, medical, and substance use concerns at a substance use treatment program in the South Bronx through Montefiore Medical Center. They worked at a queer affirmative group private practice and before they launched a successful self-pay private practice for therapy, coaching, and consultation services in 2020.

In 2022, Nyx launched the group practice, Q’Lective Therapy (Intersecting Mental Health Counseling Psychotherapy, PLLC), which is a group practice composed of queer and gender diverse clinicians working specifically with the LGBTQ+ community. Fae has been a workshop facilitator at Hudson Valley Professional Development since 2021. Nyx has conducted over 500 workshops related to gender and sexuality development, cross cultural counseling, group therapy, substance use, appropriate professional boundaries, non-monogamy and so much more. Nyx has presented workshops at Yale University, Northwell Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, California State University, Antioch University, and many community based mental health clinics and private practices across the U.S.

Fae works as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University teaching internship courses to mental health counseling graduate students. Nyx is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Applied Psychology at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development teaching various classes, including: group dynamics, cross cultural counseling, sexual risk-taking and decision making in adolescents, internship 1 & 2, practicum, and lab for individual counseling skills to graduate students in mental health counseling.

Nyx has had the privilege of working in and amongst diverse populations, which has reframed their approach to therapy in order to ensure that it is more adaptable, accessible, and demystified. Fae believes that therapy for too long has been a space that perpetuates the harmful ideologies in psychology that are rooted in whiteness, capitalism, and dehumanization. Therefore, Nyx draws upon queer, intersectional feminist, humanistic, multicultural, trauma-informed, decolonized, sex/body positive, and anti-oppressive theories to foster an egalitarian and collaborative relationship. Nyx has extensive experience working with queer and straight clients, couples, and groups exploring topics such as, sexuality/gender, kinks, consensual non-monogamy, and polyamory. Fae also has experience providing clinical documentation in support for gender affirming care for transgender and gender expansive individuals. Listening, validation, curiosity, challenging, and accountability are important features of Nyx's approach to their work with their clients.

Through consultation, Nyx seeks to amplify the messages and teachings of Queer, TGNC, & BIPOC to create affirming practices/policies with group presentations and professional development training. As a supervisor, they aim to assist my supervisees and colleagues with developing culturally responsive approaches to therapy.

Nyx collaborates with their clients to (re)claim their authentic self through a process of creativity, playfulness, compassion, somatic/imagination exercises, and critical reflection. Nyx is a proud cancer survivor, who provides one-on-one mentorship through the Imerman Angels organization. Fae has been a lifelong advocate and accomplice for dismantling oppressive systems. They currently serve as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for TransNewYork and are the immediate Past president of the Point Park University Alumni Board of Directors. Nyx recently launched a Private Practice Building Series and offers business consulting services to those interested in launching a private psychotherapy practice, coaching practice, or consulting business.

Nyx has lived experience with and continues to engage in their own therapeutic healing surrounding trauma, childhood abuse, sex work, their own gender and sexual identities, being a cancer survivor and the death of their brother. Nyx has personally experienced the benefits of individual, couples, and group therapy both as a clinician and as a client. Engaging in their own daily practices of journaling, meditation, and gratitude reflections, Nyx has come to cultivate a sense of clarity, awareness, and self-love which inspires them to share with their clients as well.

Honesty, transparency, and authenticity are important traits Nyx brings into their therapeutic spaces as well as the brave spaces into which fae has the privilege of being invited. They are humbled to have the opportunity to be here today to share both their lived experience as a gender expansive client and affirming provider.