Who We Are
At Wise Mind we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Therapy should be as individualized as the client. We spend time up front matching clients with the right therapist because we know this is critical to good therapy outcomes. Our therapists listen, educate, and work with clients to determine the best therapy for their needs.
Melisa Atkeson, LCSW
Melisa is the founder of Wise Mind Psychotherapy. She works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She treats people who have anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, parent-child issues, self-injury, disordered eating behaviors, and relationship difficulties. She has a special interest in people who struggle to regulate emotions. Melisa views therapy as an opportunity for people to learn, gain insight, and practice skills.
Melisa has been helping people solve problems for 30 years: first as a high school math teacher, next in tech sector sales and marketing, and for 15 years as a psychotherapist. Prior to private practice, she worked in foster and adoptive care teaching parenting classes and working with at-risk adolescents. She also worked at a local residential treatment center facilitating adolescent and multifamily therapy groups. She worked in a group practice before founding Wise Mind, where she has assembled an amazing team of therapists.
In addition to a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, Melisa has degrees in Mathematics and Education from Auburn University. Melisa lives in northern Virginia with her family and a menagerie of animals.
Rebecca Ellison, MSW
Rebecca is passionate about helping people across the lifespan overcome barriers that prevent them from living the life they want and deserve. She works with adolescents, adults, and families experiencing issues with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, executive function, and autism spectrum issues.
Her therapeutic approach is to create a supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns while learning effective coping skills and strategies to better manage life’s challenges. She has training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy and works with clients individually and in groups.
Rebecca holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a clinical focus from George Mason University, a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State University, and a certificate in Financial Social Work. Rebecca is a Veteran of the U.S. Army, a retired military spouse, and has supported military families for over 25 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Kendall Barrett, MSW
Kendall has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Work from George Mason University. She is passionate about helping people find joy and contentment in their lives. Kendall enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and their families as they recover from depression, loss, grief, anxiety, and trauma. Kendall works collaboratively to use the therapeutic tools that most meet her clients’ needs.
Kendall has worked with Goodwin House and Goodwin Living at Home helping older adults navigate aging and the choice to live in place. In her previous life, Kendall was the pastry chef and owner of Kendall’s Cakes in Falls Church, Va, where she designed celebration cakes for such luminaries as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Tony Bennett.
When Kendall is not helping others, she is actively trying to get her parrots, Maine Coon cats, and three dogs to behave.
Ellie Zadeh, MPC
Ellie is a resident in Professional Counseling. She is passionate about working with children, adolescents and their families, supporting them in emotional and behavioral struggles they may be experiencing. Ellie works collaboratively to help clients achieve their potential by creating a safe space where they can develop effective ways of coping and hone their decision-making skills.
Ellie uses an individualized and holistic approach, drawing from different therapeutic orientations that best suit each client’s unique situation.
Ellie particularly enjoys working with children, utilizing play-based therapies such as Child-Centered Play therapy, Child-Parent Relationship therapy, and Theraplay. Play helps children understand their feelings and express themselves using the language they know best. She also works with families to address family-based issues, parenting, and parenting during and after divorce.
Yun Simpson, LMSW, LGSW
Yun enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults as they develop and strengthen their personal identities. She treats people with anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. She also is passionate about working with people as they navigate relationships, identity, life transitions, and self-esteem. Yun uses a combination of styles such as CBT, DBT, and a strengths-based approach.
Yun has been a case manager as well as an inpatient psychiatric social worker and has experience with severe mental health conditions as well. Before entering social work, Yun worked in youth programming, providing academic as well as social-emotional support to high school student athletes (and still enjoys working with athletes!)
Yun received her Bachelor's degree in international relations from American University and her Master's degree in social work from the Catholic University of America. She currently has an LMSW in Virginia and Maryland and an LGSW in DC.
In her spare time, Yun likes to learn about plants and spend time with friends.
Kelly Rankin, LCSW
Kelly holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and is the practice manager at Wise Mind Psychotherapy. She also works as a Substance Abuse Counselor for Fairfax County Public Schools.
Kelly manages billing and communication with clients to make sure they have what they need. She will likely know the answer to any question you have!
In her spare time Kelly is likely to be found on a beach in some distant locale or playing with her grandchildren closer to home.
Eddie
Weighing in at about 6 lbs, Eddie has no real credentials except being incredibly cute and interested in making people feel better! He was found wandering by the side of a road in 2019 when he was about 4 months old. His original owners couldn’t be found so Melisa brought him home (obviously!) and gave him a job at Wise Mind where he is thriving! He looks forward to meeting you in person.
Rooster
Rooster likes to come to work with Kendall, his favorite person in the whole world. He is exceptional at listening and modeling calm. People feel less anxious just by being in his presence (mirror neurons!!). He is incredibly sweet and welcomes you to Wise Mind.
