About
Melissa Roberts New, MSW, LCSW is a seasoned clinician with over twenty-five years of experience with a focus on adolescents and young adults in crisis, pregnant and parenting teens, eating disorders, and those who have a trauma history.
I am motivated by a passion for adolescents and my community. I create therapeutic relationships that are based on compassion, respect, and collaboration. Through building trust and a commitment to authentic relationships, I can engage adolescents and young adults who have been considered difficult to work with by others. In practice this means being open to meeting in alternative locations, such as walking in the park or in a coffee house; and coordinating care with other service providers: school, court, doctors, etc. I utilize a recovery model of service provision with a strength-based perspective that is trauma informed and an eclectic mix of therapeutic interventions including: traditional talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, Brainspotting, play therapy, and task-focused therapy. I will integrate faith-based counseling when requested. These services are provided to youth, their families, and individuals in need. I provide clinical supervision to professionals. Additionally, I provide consultation and collaboration with community agencies to further program development and evaluation.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Olaf College, and my Master of Social Work with a concentration in child welfare and policy from the University of Minnesota. I previously worked for Hennepin County in community-based locations providing clinical case management and played an integral role in program development for services to pregnant and parenting teens at both the county and state level.
I have participated in intra/interagency multi-disciplinary teams to provide comprehensive services to diverse communities and have experience conducting research analysis and authoring policy briefs and grants.
I have enjoyed teaching as an Adjunct Professor of post-secondary education in Social Work focusing on direct practice and child welfare issues. My passion for engaging the community has led me to volunteer for many years with different youth serving agencies focusing on youth development.
Throughout my years of clinical service I have provided clinical supervision to undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals in social work and related fields. I am a certified child welfare specialist and have been trained as Stephen Ministry Leader.
Through the Evangelical Covenant denomination, I am certified as an Advocate for Victims of Abuse (AVA) and utilize the Mending the Soul curriculum. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
- AVA Certified
- Certified Stephen Ministry Leader
- Certified Child Welfare Specialist
- Certification in Traumatic Stress Studies
- Certification in Brain Spotting
New & Associates LLC provides comprehensive mental health services. We are collocated with our partners Samanth Zylstra & Associates . Our partnership allows us to build a professional support network for continuing education and peer clinical consultation. We understand the importance of your mental well-being and are appreciative of individual differences and personal strengths. Our goal is to provide you with competent, compassionate, and supportive guidance as you make your way through challenging times.
Many of our clients are learning how to care well for themselves, we as clinicians also practice caring well for ourselves and each other. We believe being healthy as individuals and a team helps us continually provide for our clients. We encourage you to enter into this journey of healing by contacting us.
