Melanie Towne , CSW-PIP

Melanie Towne is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker practicing in South Dakota with 11 years of experience in behavioral health. She brings experience across settings, including work with adolescents aged 10 to 17 in a psychiatric facility and with older adults in nursing home environments, and she has supported youth navigating the court system. Her background also includes work related to chemical dependency, and she has provided individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions throughout her career.

Melanie often supports caregivers who need tools to manage stress and prevent burnout, individuals coping with grief and bereavement, and people adjusting to new life roles related to aging or chronic illness. She also works with those experiencing depression, self-harm behaviors, aggression, relationship and family dynamics, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mood or personality concerns. Her approach values the person at the center of care and emphasizes strengths that clients can build on to meet their goals.

Practically, Melanie integrates evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused techniques with trauma-informed and psychodynamic-supportive elements to help clients tell their story and develop practical skills. She describes her credential as CSW-PIP, a South Dakota clinical social work credential, and she collaborates with each person to map goals, honor preferences, and tailor an approach that fits their needs.