Melissa A. Tatar-Pickersgill, M.S., LPC, NCC, BSP (she, her, hers) & Neurodivergent is an Author and Trauma Prevention Advocate, PA-Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Autism/ADHD and Addiction, a trauma-informed mind-body Psychotherapist with a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a National Board Certified Counselor, NARM I informed, a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner, a Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner, and she completed the Certificate in Trauma Stress Studies from the Trauma Research Center in Boston, MA.

I educate about and treat clinically the emotion regulation and coping strategies specific to the ASD/ADHD child/adult’s neurodiversity that may have either a known or unbeknown reason(s) for the client’s behavior(s) like anxiety management or violent outbursts that often self-sabotage one’s hoped for good outcome(s) by facilitating a multicultural and trauma-informed therapy approach that combine talk therapy, a top down approach together with evidence-based bottom up approaches. Note: Guided neuroscience-based mindfulness techniques offer your mind access to your emotions’ remote control!

ms MISSY ms entered the mental health therapy profession later in her life to be a part of a solution to the systemic challenges within the mental health profession. Her mission motto is “Stop the Story… The story IS the trigger.!”  Therefore, if the body’s part to play/act out, even during the story’s recall to discuss it, the body will shift into a physical state to be already primed for when [the time is perceived] to “need to” move fast; thus, to involuntarily re-act to the story’s trigger. For example, once your mind learned to ride a bike, the mind’s intention to ride a bike shifts the body to recall/resurface a felt state of truth to know how to balance the bike so the body is prepared for the act of riding it the second you get onto the bike. Therefore, the muscle memory in the body must be addressed first prior to any type of discussion of the story. How is this done…well that’s what the brain-hacks are for!!!!

Brain-Hacks were designed during the pandemic’s shutdown to treat my clients with Autism/ADHD/OCD/PTSD/ID/BPD over the internet or telephone. They are a smashup of neuroscience and trauma-informed interventions that proved to me, 3 years later, that having fun learning about the ANS and mindfulness tools heightened my clients invested curious interests, worked faster, were easier/safer, hacked pass shame, & could not be done wrong!

Missy started practicing Brainspotting with clients while in therapy herself receiving Brainspotting (BSP) treatment for grief. The modality was the fastest and most effective psychotherapeutic tool Missy tried for the treatment of grief and chronic pain management. As a chronic pain patient for over a decade, Missy tried countless treatments following a near-death SSRI and muscle relaxer combined-induced seizure in which meant she was told by doctors her only moving forward treatment option was to use opioids, physical therapy, and steroid injections. While laying in the hospital bed for three days, Missy asked herself how she gave away her power. In the hospital, Missy made a cognitive choice to no longer permit fear to govern her thinking so in her hospital bed, she took ownership of herself back, recognizing herself for the first time as the CEO of her own life.