About Freya

Freya

By Thomas Apel

One of the principal deities of the Norse pantheon, the lovely and enchanting Freya was a goddess of blessings, love, lust, and fertility. A member of the Vanir tribe of deities, Freya shared her people’s penchant for the magical arts of divination. It was Freya who introduced the gods to seidr, a form of magic that allowed practitioners to know and change the future.

Freya was gentler and more agreeable than the other Norse deities. Where Thor accomplished his goals through aggression and Odin and Loki resorted to trickery, Freya achieved her ends with the gentler persuasions of gifts, beauty, and sex. While Freya was often unselfish and helpful, she did have a darker side. Like the male gods, Freya had a taste for blood and fought fiercely in battle. It was said she took the lives of half the warriors ever slain in battle.

Meaning “the lady,” the name Freya (Freyja in the Old Norse) was derived from the Proto-Germanic frawjon, an honorific title used for a mature woman of high social standing. It was also the root of the word frau in modern German, the honorific title for married women. “Freya” was probably first used as an epithet or nickname by one of the Germanic tribes. However, it would eventually gain popularity and become a personal name.

https://mythopedia.com/topics/freya

Melissa

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of experience working with individuals and families in community mental health settings. I completed my BS in Rehabilitation Services at Penn State University in 1993, along with minors in both Women’s Studies and Psychology. I went on to complete my MS in Community Agency Counseling at California University of Pennsylvania in 2000. In addition to providing therapy, I have experience with training, supervision, and administration.

My educational and professional experiences are enhanced by lived experience.  I am the mother of four children in a blended family. I understand personally the unique struggles of parents as they work to balance family, work, and personal life. I have experience with challenging pregnancies, pregnancy loss and raising a child with a significant medical issue, Type 1 Diabetes.  

My personal and career related experiences with reproductive health issues, led me to pursue certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) which I obtained in 2022 through PSI (Perinatal Support International).  I am also trained in EMDR.

Although I work for another wonderful private practice, I took a leap of faith, challenging my own fears of success, and started Freya.  With the support of the other practice's founder and some longtime colleagues, this new journey began.