Biography
Hi, my name is Dr. Megan Velo-Zorzi. I am a psychologist and the owner of Red Bird Mental Health Services, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. I’ve been in private practice since 2010 and started the group practice, Red Bird Mental Health Services, in 2018. My hope is to provide a place for healing and recovery throughout the Wyoming Valley.
In 2014, my family and I experienced the loss of our daughter, Natalie. Since then, we have associated the Cardinal, or “Red Bird” with her. My son, who was two at the time, would often look out the window for a red bird to feel connected to his sister. I decided to name the agency Red Bird Mental Health in her honor. Losing Natalie started my own journey of recovery; mentally, physically, and spiritually. As I tried to figure out what would help me in my own healing, my eyes were opened to many alternative ways of working with and thinking about mental health. In my own recovery, I incorporated talk and body-based therapy, movement, exercise, meditation, acupuncture, and Reiki. My goal is to eventually be able to provide a place of healing, that integrates these areas at Red Bird, in order to allow clients access to whatever resources they need to facilitate their own journey of recovery.
What is your treatment philosophy?
So many factors can contribute to real and lasting change. I love the quote: “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” Basically, I believe that if someone is making that first call for therapy, they are recognizing that their life can be better in some way. I believe our decision to change, and the willingness and flexibility to try new things leads to lasting recovery.
As a therapist and supervisor, my treatment philosophy is all about empowering my clients. I work very hard to work at whatever pace the client needs. Some clients are ready to make big changes right away, and others need some more time to prepare, create a plan, and then act. My job is to help provide the tools necessary, your job is to put them into practice.
What therapy is like:
Talk therapy is not just sitting in a room and chatting with someone for an hour. It uses highly specialized and well-researched interventions. Our therapists have trained in a number of different types of therapies for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and sexuality. We use Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Art Therapy. Each one of the therapists has their own interests and areas of expertise.
Personally, I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT for short. This is the only evidence-based therapy for children who have experienced trauma. I am working towards certification in Somatic Experiencing. This is a type of trauma therapy that integrates mind and body using movement, images, sensation, and emotions. I have completed a certificate course in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, and yes, this does work and is very effective! I am a sex therapist and specialize in LGBTIQ+ issues, sexual dysfunction, and sexual education. I am also passionate about adoption and foster care, receiving on-the-job training as a foster and adoptive mother.
I care deeply about mental health and know that it is important as physical health, and the two are often profoundly connected and intertwined. I fully believe that good mental health care is a human right. We should all be able to access these services, not only because they can heal us, and allow us to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives, but because recovery becomes a chain reaction; as one person heals, so too does their loved ones, friends, and family, and community.
