My Professional Story:
I have my master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. I am a tenured professor, an international keynote speaker, and a global consultant. As a clinical psychotherapist, I host the podcast, “Mental Health with Dr. Melissa Mork.” I am also a Certified Humor Professional and recently competed for Minnesota’s Funniest Person.
My Personal Story:
After high school, I backpacked across seven countries in Africa. My parents died shortly after I returned to the US, leaving me feeling orphaned and untethered.
I worked as an actress in Los Angeles until a severe autoimmune disease took me away from the stage. I ended up homeless in LA until I found my resolve to return to the Midwest to attend college and then graduate school.
Because the medications from the disease caused significant weight gain, I worked very hard to lose over 100 pounds in my early 40’s.
Then I lost my husband to a swift, severe battle with lung cancer, leaving me to parent our two children alone.
Most recently, I have become the mother to a child with a serious and persistent mental illness. I have seen mental health from both sides: the personal and the professional.
Because of this, I have rededicated my life to learning about mental health because mental health matters.
