Sonja Garrett Melton, LPC, PEL

Sonja Garrett Melton is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She also has a Professional Educators License (PEL) in School Counseling and Elementary Education. Sonja comes to Kids First Collaborative with over 20 years experience supporting children and their families in educational settings and more recently in clinical practice. She has an undergraduate degree in  elementary education from Depaul University and a Masters in Counseling and Mental Health from the University of Arizona. Sonja has pursued post-graduate training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Through her experience as an elementary teacher and school counselor, Sonja has passionately advocated for social and emotional and mental health services for children and families. Sonja has experience working with individuals across the developmental spectrum from preschool to adulthood. Sonja has a deep understanding and sense of empathy for parents of children who are facing challenging times, and she is committed to helping caregivers navigate parenthood. She also enjoys working with women who need support managing life’s many stressors. Sonja has a strong knowledge of social and emotional learning standards and enjoys collaborating with families, school practitioners, and other therapists to help children manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, inattentiveness, and emotional dysregulation so that they can reach their goals.

Sonja is committed to community volunteerism and engagement. While living in Arizona, she served as the Vice President of her local Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and was a contributing author for her community newspaper. In her free time, Sonja enjoys being outside, cooking, and spending time with her husband and three children.