Hello, my name is Dr. Melissa Briggs-Phillips and I am thrilled to join MiNDSET Ketamine as your Psychologist-In-Residence and Managing Director of Psychological Services. I have not been this excited about what my profession can offer people since I began my training decades ago.
I want to share a bit about my “why”.
I am a vintage trauma therapist with a circuitous career path. I began my career in 1993 as a pre-law intern, in the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit of the District Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I thought I would fight for justice by punishing people who do harm, and instead I became preoccupied with our clients.
I marveled: “How on earth do human beings go on? How do they rise from these ashes and face a tomorrow? How do they build lives for themselves and have hope?”
I wanted to be part of the recovery and resilience, serve those who were seeking to thrive after shattering experiences, and learn the “how” of healing.
In many ways I was seeking to find that path for myself.
After completing my Ph.D., life took some unexpected turns. I ended up serving as an Executive Director, a Project Director, Director of Research Resources, and a Chief-of-Staff in a wide range of settings. I managed teams and budgets, executed and operated, initiated and collaborated. All the terms that belong on a resume, so they say.
I was asked to teach my first graduate course in 1999 when an adjunct quit at the last minute: Human Sexuality and Substance Abuse. I had zero business teaching that class. I still remember the handful of fellow graduate students (older than me) that nodded attentively, smiled encouragingly. I am sure I was terrible, but I fell in love with teaching and have been teaching ever since. While I am no longer standing in front of an auditorium of college students, I view my keynote addresses, corporate seminars and workshops as teaching experiences.
Along the way, I kept doing clinical work “on the side”. At the end of 2014, I decided it was time to merge my professional paths. I wanted to open a niche practice and bring my hybrid experience to clients. I never stopped doing trauma work, as this fills my soulspace. I work with people that are operating at the highest levels of their professional lives. I also love to spot those hidden gems in the middle of organizations and be their silent partners as they find their voice and just kill it. It is incredibly satisfying to dig into the HOW (not just the behavioral “what”) that leads to sustainable change in a leader or a system. In my office, we deal with the REAL stuff that gets in the way of equity and excellence. This can be unresolved trauma, decades old primary pain points, deeply entrenched shame-stuff that is never touched by traditional executive coaches.
I love what I do. It is sacred to me.
While I did not pursue a career in academia, I have a high regard for research. In fact, I believe that thinking like a researcher is basic psychological flexibility training! Asking “What am I missing? In what ways may I be incorrect?” are great foundational points of inquiry for research as well as therapy!
Suffice it to say, I try and stay in touch, and on top of, what smart people are saying and doing.
When popular culture began talking about it, I started reading the studies about psychedelics and trauma recovery. I was immediately intrigued. Could this REALLY be a tool for my clients?! Could years of healing in traditional talk therapy be exponentially shortened?
Then, I attended a training about ketamine assisted psychotherapy.
I was bowled over, this is not an exaggeration. Over two decades ago one of my jobs was to establish the regulatory compliance protocol for locking the ketamine up in research labs because the grad students would steal it and sell it at clubs?!
I was immediately curious. I started going to conferences, and taking continuing education classes, and then anecdotally seeing clients experience shockingly positive outcomes…I was super inspired…but what could I do? It is not in my Scope of Practice to do this. I am not an anesthesiologist?!
I started talking to anyone I could. I started asking people to ask people to talk to me. I had lunches and coffees and Zoom meetings.
Then, a friend introduced me to Dr. David Caldwell.
I thought “Okay, this person is the real deal. The first exceptional healthcare provider, with years of experience, that believes in this modality as a healing agent, that embraces therapy, that believes in intersectional and integrated care. This is it.”
MiNDSET Ketamine is Dr. Caldwell’s vision, his legit passion (I know this can be an eyeroll inducing aphorism…but when it fits, it fits). MiNDSET is an embodiment of his commitment to patients as full humans, to mental health and wellness, to excellence and best-in-class care.
It is my honor to join his team as Psychologist-In-Residence and Managing Director of Psychological Services
In the weeks that come, I will outline the various pathways that you can participate in Ketamine Adjacent Psychotherapy (KAP) via our practice. This can be with me!
You do not need to suffer continual chaos in order to grow. Peace is possible.
We are honored to help you see the world beyond the given,
