About Me: Your Listener at Coffee and Communication

Welcome to a space where clinical expertise meets real-world understanding. I'm here to offer you a safe, judgment-free zone where you can be heard and understood. Learn more about my background and why I'm dedicated to providing empathetic listening and support.

A Little About Me & Why I’m Here

I’ve spent a lifetime studying the human mind and walking the front lines of human experience. From the clinical side—with a Doctorate in Psychiatry, a Master’s in Psychology, and a background in Neuroscience—to the "real world" grit of law enforcement and legal studies, I have seen life from almost every angle. I am a certified LPC in Alaska, now living here in Oklahoma, but more than my titles, I am a writer and a person who genuinely cares.

I’m starting Coffee and Communication because I’ve realized something important: after all the degrees and all the years on the force, the most powerful thing one person can do for another is simply to listen.

I know how heavy life can get. I know that sometimes the systems meant to help us feel too cold, too expensive, or too judgmental. That’s why I’m offering my time as a volunteer. I want to give back to those who need someone to talk to, without the labels, the paperwork, or the price tag.

Here is what I want you to know if you’re thinking about reaching out:

  • I am unshockable: Between law enforcement and psychiatry, I’ve seen the hardest parts of life. You don’t have to "clean up" your story for me.
  • I have no agenda: I’m not here to diagnose you or fix you. I’m here to witness your story and offer a non-judgmental ear.
  • Your privacy is my priority: I believe in the power of remaining anonymous. This is a safe space for you to say what needs to be said.

Sometimes we don't need a plan; we just need to be heard. If you’re carrying something heavy, let’s grab a coffee and talk. I’m here to listen.

My Counseling Style

"I bring the clinical depth of a psychiatrist and the real-world grit and as an Author to the table, offering you a safe, unshockable, and deeply empathetic space where you can finally be heard without judgment."

Who I'm Here To Help

I am looking to help the person who feels like they have nowhere else to go where they won't be judged, labeled, or 'processed' through a system.

Specifically, I’m here for the high-capacity individuals carrying heavy burdens—like first responders, veterans, or professionals—who feel they have to keep a 'tough' exterior, as well as anyone lost in the noise of life who just needs a witness to their story. They are people who might be intimidated by a clinical office but are starving for a real, deep conversation. Whether you’re navigating trauma, a life transition, or just the weight of being human, if you feel like your voice has been lost and you need an expert ear with a neighbor’s heart, I am looking for you.

"Everyone wants to tell me what’s wrong with me, but nobody just wants to hear what happened to me."

Early in my career, moving between the clinical world of psychiatry and the high-stakes reality of law enforcement, I realized something that changed me. I remember sitting with someone who had been through the absolute ringer—legally, emotionally, and mentally. They looked at me, exhausted by 'the system,' and said, "Everyone wants to tell me what’s wrong with me, but nobody just wants to hear what happened to me."

In that moment, all my degrees and my badge didn't matter as much as my ability to just sit there and be a human being. I saw how much healing happens when the 'expert' steps out from behind the desk and just listens. I’m passionate about this because I’ve seen too many people fall through the cracks—people who are too 'strong' to ask for help or too tired of being a 'case number.' I do this because I know that a single hour of being truly heard, without judgment or a bill, can be the bridge that gets someone through their darkest night.

My books 

If you’re interested in my writing and want to explore my books, you can find my author page here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melissa-Holt/author/B0CSK54GTR?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=5fbbddc0-afe4-46a1-9159-f9be146036a3

My titles are also available across more than 20,000 online retailers worldwide, including Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and many others.