"I started working with Melanie, following a period of significant change and loss in my personal life. At that time, I knew that I was also ready to make some big changes in my professional life.  I will never forget what she said to me as I finished my first session with her, “nobody ever comes here without something important in their life to work on”. I knew at that point that I’d found someone who could assist me in my journey to the next phase of my life. I’d spent two years in talk therapy, over five years practicing yoga, but I knew deep in my soul that a lifetime of holding onto old patterns and hurts had definitely had an impact on my body, soul and spirit."

Melanie and I began a process that continues to this day. Together, we opened up my body, soul and spirit to all that was ready to be made manifest in my life. I established a new business in what is meant to be my heart’s work for the remainder of my life. It takes courage to leave the corporate space, but I completed the transition this year and work from a bright and sunny space in my home. My body is changing, opening up to that which I held inside for so long. I am so grateful for the gifts that have come my way in the past year."

"Thank you for helping me manifest my dreams!"

"About ten years ago I got myself into a relationship that was both physically and emotionally abusive.  I stayed in it for four years until it ended up in an "assault with a deadly weapon" charge for him and a subsequent restraining order.  I haven't had any contact with him, his family, or any of our mutual friends since then - I've cut every apparent tie and erased that chapter of my life.  However, since that day I've had recurring nightmares about him controlling me and about me trying to escape from him.  They used to be maybe once a week, sometimes more.  But in the past couple years they've been every day.  I felt like someone had cast a spell over me.  Even during the day I'd find myself thinking about the previous night's nightmare so an increasing amount of space in my head was being consumed by these thoughts.  They were such a regular part of my days/nights, though, that I really didn't see them as anything more than an unavoidable annoyance and tried not to dwell on it.  I just put up with it.

I met Melanie when I moved to town and was looking for care for my son.  He was having some adjustment issues of his own and she suggested I try B.E.S.T. with him.  In an effort to help my son's progress as well as a few of my own creative blocks I was encountering, I decided to try it as well.  I had one session last week and am going in for my second one today.  I didn't even realize until I woke up yesterday morning and the significance of it didn't sink in until I said it out loud, but I haven't had a single nightmare since that session.  Instead, I've actually had good dreams!  Two evenings ago I dreamt that I was sitting in the sand on a beach and the ocean waves were washing over my head.  Last night I dreamt I was getting a B.E.S.T. session!

The only time I find myself thinking during the day about that bad stuff is now when I'm writing about it.  Otherwise I'm focused on my work or whatever it is I'm doing at the moment.

I still don't completely understand how it works, but I know it does - and in ways I didn't even expect.  It's clear that my body knows itself better than I am consciously aware of.  She is somehow able to allow my self to heal itself.  It's not like she did something to me - she just made it easier for my body/mind to function in it's optimal state.  I've heard it said that balance is essential for proper functioning, but I didn't fully understand or appreciate how true that really is until I had some of my imbalances corrected.  I feel like someone might feel after they've had a year or more of therapy.  I'm one that doesn't respond to what some might call more "conventional" therapy so I never even would have considered that route.  I am so thankful that I was brought to Melanie and B.E.S.T.  I'm definitely going to continue my treatments.  I feel like I've broken through a wall that's been holding me back and now I can confidently move forward with all these plans and ideas I've been sitting on and know that if I get off track I can just go back for another B.E.S.T. session.  It's amazing.  I feel like I'm not even doing anything and I feel the effects.  I'm also thankful that my son is getting B.E.S.T. as well and he's able to be the smart, caring, kind, balanced person I know he is and wants to be without force or medication.

I don't think I've ever written a testimonial for anything before, but it's the least I can do to say thank you."

"I have gone from a crying, babbling, feeling sorry for myself and not understanding what was going on inside of me person--to a much much calmer, relaxed, ready to understand and except what I am, and how and what I need to do to change.  Sometimes while on the table I have emotional experiences but usually it is a very calming experience. When I get up to leave I feel so relaxed I compare myself to a rag doll..."

"While Melanie worked I did experience a variety of sensations.  I could feel things changing and reacting within my muscles and my "guts".  She read my body like a book and was able to isolate and improve a number of things I was dealing with: chronic back pain was gone; stiff ankle and hip were much improved; eczema improved overnight.  My body eliminated toxins like I had never seen before, and my stomach flu was cleared up.  I was very relaxed the remainder of the day. I felt completely different than I did when I went in. After only 2 sessions I feel like my overall health has improved, and the specific problems I was having are long gone..."

"Boy o boy, (husband) sure is grateful!   HE came out saying that as this bad-back stuff usually takes two weeks to get over, you put him forward about a week-and-a-half.  Thanks so VERY much".--wife of a client who had one session of energy work whose back went out at work due to computer work and stress.

"Overall, I feel better. I have more energy and less aches and pains..."

"My husband's psoriasis and cholesterol levels are much better, without any other interventions having taken place..."

"For 10 years I have had fibromyalgia. I went from doctor to doctor trying to find a reason and solution for my illness, but my body just became weaker and weaker. I went to water therapy and physical therapy, which helped some, but I still experienced pain flare-ups almost continuously. The pain would be set off by stress, a dental cleaning, being startled, the cold, windy air, etc. I felt I needed a handicapped parking permit because it was so painful to walk from my car to the building. The cold weather kept me in the house for weeks at a time. I felt hopeless. My body felt so much older than it actually was--I was almost an invalid. I was so over-sensitive to nearly everything. Driving the car over bumps was extremely painful. If I bumped my glasses it hurt my face so much, I had to quit my job in a department store, stop homeschooling my sons, I couldn't eat many things, I was not able to go out to dinner with my family or go to my children's sporting and activities. I cried in frustration and pain sometimes every other day.

I have been a client of Melanie's for over a month. Looking back, in only two days after the first session with Melanie I noticed that I wanted to listen to music in my car (I hadn't for 2 years) again and my head was not as sensitive. I went to a boy scout dinner with my family and I actually sat down and ate with them. My husband was amazed. The children running around the room near me didn't make me fear that they would bump into me.  As the days went on I found I could do more and more. My strength was growing. My family and I are able to do things I felt I could never do again! I haven't cried in weeks. I have been jumping on a mini trampoline and my bounce was so weak my feet were not able to leave the mat. I was only able to do a short work-out of less than 10 gentle minutes. Now I can JUMP as high as I can and jog, twist, etc. for 30 minutes each day. I feel so wonderful!!!  I can walk up stairs faster, reach into cupboards without getting a stool, bend down and get into the bottom drawers of the refrigerator, cupboard, drawers--impossible just a few weeks ago. I can sit on the floor and play games with my boys again. I have strength and energy. I can pick things off the floor, I can do laundry, cook dinner, carry things, I can eat a variety of foods again, I am sleeping better, am so much calmer, happier, more peaceful.  Today we celebrated my son's birthday with 11 of his friends at Planet X and it was so wonderful--stress free! I would not have been able to do this two months ago. I feel younger and look and feel so different. Each day I have something new to add to what I can do. My neck was so stiff and painful--now feeling better each day--it has not felt like this for many years. The healing that has happened in my life has been a miracle!!! "

--This client came to me diagnosed with fibromyalgia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety.  We have been working with her doctors to wean her off of her medication.  She was taking many supplements, sleeping pills every night, anti-anxiety medication, and anti-depressants.  We replaced her supplements with food (after reducing her stress that would allow her to eat). She takes a multivitamin and acidopholus to rebuild her immune system.  We've got her off of her sleeping pills, anti-anxiety meds, and anti-depressants all with little or no side effects.  She has received bodywork and energy balancing, has learned relaxation and coping techniques, does breathing exercises, is doing yoga and meditation daily, and has a new outlook on life.  We work every week on new goals that she wants to accomplish.  She has completely reversed her OCD, is sleeping better than she has in years, is more focused and calm, can take care of her family again, is working on clearing the clutter in her house, and looks like a totally different person...she's done so much work to get herself better!!  Congratulations!!

"I am a 47 year old mother of two teenagers with substantial stress from home and work. I was ready for Melanie to balance my body. It was amazing! I mentioned in the orientation that my shoulders were bothering me and I had recently been checked out for carpal tunnel syndrome. When I was on the table, the first points Melanie touched were exactly where my stress points were in my shoulder blades! During the same session, she asked if I had allergies as she sensed I was very congested which I didn't really notice at that moment. But then the lights came on when she said "your ears are really plugged up!" That hit home, about three years ago at the doctors office I asked him if there was anything I could do for my ears because they were plugged all the time. It was effecting my hearing. I had a hearing test which showed no problems. I would have to blow with my nose plugged to equalize the pressure in my ears so that I could hear.....this has become a habit as I equalize the pressure in my ears whenever I have trouble hearing my kids or the television, etc. The doctor did prescribe an allergy medication which I used for some time with no positive results. Melanie is currently working on "my head" to unclog me!"

"First of all, let me say that I have my bachelor's degree in nursing. I firmly believed, and still believe, in the efficacy of western medicine. However, I have come to also firmly believe that not only does western medicine have it's limits, that there are complementary strengths in things like energy, or body work.  Among western medicine's problem with this is it's lack of ability to put it in a double-blind test. Were just anybody to try to do what Melanie does, most frequently it would not work. What she does is not just a mechanical thing, it takes an unusual talent. Think of it like singing: while many can take the same lessons Barbra Streisand does, breathe the same way, duplicate everything she does -- the chance of turning out the same quality music is poor. And, how would we measure what it is that she does? Only by that very un-measurable sense of pleasure and beauty we get by listening. In the same way, energy work won't fit into western medicine's paradigms. My background, however, compels me to try. On my first session, Melanie put her finger on the RIGHT side of my back, half-way between spine and shoulderbone (scapula). At once, the area in my LEFT arm served by the ulnar nerve began to "buzz" -- feel as though it were actively tingling. I had her remove her finger -- the tingling sensation went away. Back on, it started. Off, and on. Demonstrably, there is something to what she's doing.."

"We are all very special people and many of us don't realize how good we are or how good we could be in all areas of our lives. It takes a lot of hard work to get to a place where we are happy with ourselves and actually like ourselves. When we are balanced and grounded we will have a whole new outlook on our lives. Melanie can and will help us get there. Thank You Melanie!"

"For those of you who don't know Melanie she is one of the most gifted and special people I know. I'm 55 years old and have had a lot of people time and feel very qualified to say that about her. She will make you feel like you are the very special and important person that you are! While on her table she has the gift to tell you things about yourself you probably never knew or had forgotten or tried to forget. All of our past experiences, good and bad are stored in our bodies and it is her gift to be able to very gently touch us and tell what we've been through our entire lives. Then help us understand, except and release those experiences..."

"...going to this makes you even more relaxed, and tends to get at the cause of problems that cause tense muscles, rather than just treating symptoms..." 

"It is my firm belief that Melanie is an unusually skilled energy therapist. Like a singer, she has talents and skills that not everyone can duplicate..."