Welcome to
Open Doors Counseling
Offering compassionate care at the
threshold of change.
Clients I Serve
My name is Melanie Mauss, but my friends call me Mia.
I’m a daughter, a wife, a mom, an enthusiastically bad dancer, and a licensed professional counselor.
People find their way to me from all walks of life. Underneath it all, there’s often a quiet ache—a sense that something has to change, even if you’re not sure what, or how. If that feels familiar, you’re in good company.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.
Most of my clients arrive a little unsure, a little worn out, and (let’s be honest) more than a little skeptical that therapy can help. They’re not here for quick fixes or “life hacks.” They want something deeper—a steadier way of moving through the world, a safe place to untangle the knots, and maybe, just maybe, a laugh or two along the way.
Here’s what I believe:
All counseling is spiritual—not always because we talk about God (though we can), but because therapy is where we ask the questions that shape our hearts and our stories.
You might be wondering…
What’s actually at the center of who I am?
Why do I keep people at arm’s length, even when I want connection?
Who would I be if I could just set down these old burdens?
Is real change even possible? And what would that take?
How did I get here, and what keeps me stuck?
What’s the difference between struggling and suffering, and does it even matter?
My approach isn’t formulaic. I bring in art, literature, scripture, philosophy, bad jokes, and whatever else helps us get closer to the truth.
Therapy is an investment—in your well-being, your relationships, your sense of purpose, and your ability to move through life with a little more lightness, a little more freedom, and maybe even a little more fun.
If you’re ready—or even just curious—about finding a new way forward, you’re welcome here. The first step doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” - Emily Dickinson
About Me
Therapy as a relationship, not a transaction. I won’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do bring skill, intention, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to show up.
I’m certified in Level 1 Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and I’m currently completing my certification in Integrative Mental Health. That means I look at the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—and consider how things like sleep, nutrition, movement, and gut health interact with emotional well-being.
My clinical work is rooted in modalities like:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (Level 1 certified)
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Covenant Theological Seminary. I have been married for 18 years. I'm a mom to three wonderful, wild children, and I understand what it means to be stretched thin while still trying to grow.
Outside of session, you’ll likely find me doing yoga, walking my dogs, poking around thrift stores, or enthusiastically tackling DIY projects I may or may not finish. I'm a Colorado native, but these days I call Missouri home.
How Does Counseling Work?
Modern neuroscience confirms what many of us have sensed all along: we’re wired for connection, and real change happens in the presence of another person. The field of interpersonal neurobiology shows that healing doesn’t occur in isolation—we need safe, attuned relationships to rewire the brain and create new ways of being.
I often explain it like this: our brains are like Bluetooth devices—we sync with the people around us. When your nervous system, which may be filled with swirling thoughts and mixed emotions, connects to the calm, regulated presence of a skilled therapist, something powerful begins to happen. Clarity emerges. Patterns shift. Over time, you develop the inner wiring to become the person you want to be—not just in theory, but in your everyday life.