About Me
Allow Me to Introduce Myself
Hi there! My name is Melissa (Meli) Rentas. I’m a work from home and home schooling mom of two precious boys ages 8 and 10. My husband, sons, fur-babies and I live in sunny Tampa, FL where we enjoy going out for walks and looking for the neighborhood critters.
1. My Career Background
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. I have a master’s in science in Counselor Education, Mental Health Counseling from Florida International University. After graduating in 2009, I worked in community mental health with adolescent first-time criminal offenders. I was a counselor and conducted many individual, family, and group counseling sessions.
As time progressed, I soon felt a draw back into the fulfilling field of education. I taught middle school social studies and eventually became a certified school and guidance counselor. I specialize in helping clients take control of their thoughts so they can live peacefully. Currently, I am working toward certification as a Christian Life Coach and Counselor with the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and additional certifications with the National Board of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.
2. Motherhood and Mental Health
My husband and I met, quickly fell in love, and married in 2013. In May of 2014, I found out I was pregnant with my first precious baby boy! It was a hard decision for me at the time, but I left my “job” as a counselor to stay home with him. Our second son came a couple years later in February 2017. It has been the best decision in the whole world to stay home with both my babies!
Upon becoming a stay-at-home mom, I noticed new moms’ emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs. Mine included. The sacrificial love that motherhood requires can be so challenging and very lonely. There doesn’t seem to be enough support within the church to meet the mental health needs of moms specifically.
3. A New Calling for a New Season
I soon felt a true calling to work in partnership with God to love and serve moms. Over the last five years, I’ve published self-development content on various social media platforms. I have enjoyed writing “self-help” education to Christian women on various issues. Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, I decided to start teaching live and have written and published several Christian self-help courses and ebooks.
My goal is to continue serving women with online coaching, counseling, and courses. Please take a look around my website to learn more about mental health. You’ll find my blog page with both written articles and links to my Youtube videos.
Disclaimer
This blog is for informational purposes only. It’s not meant to diagnose or treat any mental health condition. If you’d like to work with me as your behavioral health therapist (ie. counselor), please schedule a session below. If you reside outside of Florida, please contact your church or insurance for a list of providers.
