Welcome to
Open Doors Counseling
Offering compassionate care at the
threshold of change.
Clients I Serve
My name is Melanie Mauss, by my friends call me Mia. I’m a daughter, wife, mom, and a licensed professional counselor.
My clients come from all walks of life. They’re teachers and artists, caretakers and skeptics, mothers and friends. Some are deeply religious. Some are sorting out what they believe. Some are in pain and don’t know why.
But they all come to me with the same quiet ache: something has to change.
They’re not looking for tips and tricks. They’re looking for a different way of being in the world—something deeper, more honest. Something that holds water.
Here’s what I believe:
All counseling is spiritual. Not because we’re talking about God (though we can), but because we’re asking the kinds of questions that shape a soul:
What is central to my identity? And how does identity change over time?
What is it about me that keeps others at arm’s length?
Who would I be if I put this burden down?
Can I change, really? And what would that take?
How did I get here, and why do I stay?
What’s the difference between struggling and suffering?
I believe that healing slips in through the side door. It doesn’t usually show up in the form of a 10-step plan or a “life hack.”
More often, it comes when something cracks us open—when a poem hits too close to home, or a piece of music names a feeling we’ve never been able to put into words. When a story helps us say, “Yes. That’s it. That’s what it’s been like for me.”
That’s why therapy with me isn’t formulaic. I bring in art, literature, scripture, philosophy—anything that helps us get closer to the truth. I ask hard questions and hold space for the answers, even the half-formed ones.
You won’t get a blank slate. You’ll get a guide. Someone who’s been there, who knows what it is to feel stuck—and who believes deeply that change is possible.
“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” - Emily Dickinson
About Me
My own path to becoming a therapist was shaped by the life-changing experience of being a client. Therapy helped me break through old patterns, heal relationships, and move forward with more ease and honesty. It didn’t "fix" me—it helped me understand myself, care for myself, and trust myself.
During my own time in therapy, I discovered that the most powerful response to darkness is to open every door— and take every opportunity— to let in the light.
Today, it is my joy to help my clients find the doorways to hope.
I approach therapy as a relationship, not a transaction. I won’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do bring skill, intention, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to show up.
I’m certified in Level 1 Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and I’m currently completing my certification in Integrative Mental Health. That means I look at the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—and consider how things like sleep, nutrition, movement, and gut health interact with emotional well-being.
My clinical work is rooted in modalities like:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Covenant Theological Seminary and have been married for 17 years. I'm a mom to three wonderful, wild children, and I understand what it means to be stretched thin while still trying to grow. I’m a Christian, which means I believe every person is inherently valuable and worthy of respect. I’m honored to walk with people from all walks of life, regardless of their faith, background, or identity.
Outside of session, you’ll likely find me doing yoga, walking my dogs, poking around thrift stores, or enthusiastically tackling DIY projects I may or may not finish. I'm a Colorado native, but these days I call Missouri home.
How Does Counseling Work?
Modern neuroscience confirms what many of us have sensed all along: we’re wired for connection, and real change happens in the presence of another person. The field of interpersonal neurobiology shows that healing doesn’t occur in isolation—we need safe, attuned relationships to rewire the brain and create new ways of being.
I often explain it like this: our brains are like Bluetooth devices—we sync with the people around us. When your nervous system, which may be filled with swirling thoughts and mixed emotions, connects to the calm, regulated presence of a skilled therapist, something powerful begins to happen. Clarity emerges. Patterns shift. Over time, you develop the inner wiring to become the person you want to be—not just in theory, but in your everyday life.
What Can You Expect?
At first, counseling can feel a little strange. There’s no other relationship quite like it—where the focus is entirely on you, where you can speak freely without having to take care of the other person, and where silence isn’t awkward but spacious. It’s a different rhythm than most of us are used to, but over time, it becomes a space where real insight and transformation can take root.
I approach my clients with the belief that you are the expert on your own life. My role is to get deeply curious about who you are, what matters to you, where you’ve been, where you want to go, and what might be getting in the way. You can expect me to listen attentively, ask thoughtful (and sometimes pointed) questions, and offer observations that may help you see yourself with new clarity.
As our work deepens, you’ll likely experience me as supportive, practical, and occasionally challenging—in the way that helps you stretch toward the version of yourself you’re becoming.
I tailor my approach to fit you, not the other way around.
That might include integrating creative modalities like art, movement, music, or breathwork—especially when words don’t feel like enough.
Throughout our time together, we’ll check in regularly to make sure you’re moving toward the goals you set. Therapy isn’t meant to be a lifelong commitment—it’s meant to equip you, grow you, and ultimately empower you to live with greater freedom, connection, and peace.
If something here resonates, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.