We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Melanie S. Hussain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Melanie S., have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is such a great question because so often everyone is asking about balance and how to find it. It is like this goal to attain and if you don’t have everything balanced, then your life is in disarray. This is untrue and unfair. I hear this from my friends and clients. I always try to reframe it for them and shift their perspective when it comes to balance. I want to take that pressure off from them and even myself. Truthfully, I don’t always use the word, only when it comes to physical fitness. It may sound strange, but if I am doing yoga or lifting weights, the word balance is correlated to maintaining stability and poise. This makes more sense to me when we talk about it in terms of exercise than it does for a lifestyle. I used to believe I had to have it all together- my life, relationships, career, and even my feelings. But as I have shifted, mentally and emotionally, I learned that having everything in balance isn’t going to happen. And that’s okay. When I was younger my parents would always say, “Mel, you have to juggle.” In recent years, I have reflected on that more than ever. Mom and Dad are always right. It is about managing multiple things at once. There are moments in our lives where we can juggle better—we can manage better. And sometimes it is more challenging. It’s okay to put some things down and pick them back up later. We just don’t have two things going on in our lives that we can carry in our hands, if we did, perhaps balance would be more effective. We have so many thoughts, feelings, responsibilities, and roles that we embody and it’s challenging to manage them. We carry it all internally and externally. Especially when it comes to work and life, how do we navigate both? Work, or as I like to call it your career, should be a part of your lifestyle, A career encompasses styling the life you want and is a representation of YOU. And that, my friend, is a juggling act. I even struggle sometimes. So how do I think about balance? It is about finding your PERSONAL RHYTHM. What works for you? What works for me? I really stand by this. With the amount of things going on in our life, how can we find a rhythm that is favorable for us as individuals. Each person’s rhythm looks and sounds different. We have to be flexible with ourselves and in doing so, it allows for more maneuverability. If you have several things happening at once—work, school, relationships, or personal life—find a way to juggle all of these or some of these in a way that adapts to your lifestyle. Be flexible with yourself.  Most importantly, remember to ask yourself, do I have the emotional capacity to take this on? When you give yourself permission, you find the rhythm that works in your favor. Your personal rhythm and flow is ever changing. That is a beautiful thing to self-appreciate. This is what I have learned and I continue to learn about myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a relational and style therapist! And it is so exciting to express that, it has taken some time and a lot of self talk—the good and the bad—to get to this place. But, I’m here and it is invigorating. My main focus is on the understanding and empowerment of the self. We are a solid force and entity and it is so important for us to better understand our SELF. Not many people take the time to do so, it is difficult being vulnerable and transparent with ourselves. Through my own personal experiences, struggling with self image and self esteem, I have used that to motivate me in my skill set. The challenges I faced growing up as a West Indian girl in a primarily Caucasian, rural town has inspired me to focus on one’s identity and everything encompassing. I always thought standing out was a bad thing, but it is empowering. These life lessons have inspired my process with my clients and my continuous research. I always remain culturally sensitive in our interactions; this allows me to better understand their background. Through using a natural systems lens, I aim to help my clients connect with their authentic selves. I spend a lot of time focusing on self esteem, self worth, self image, and self perception. My approach includes self empowerment strategies, mood and appearance therapy, and a biopsychosocial analysis as well. I have a vast clientele that ranges from providing individual therapy, academic counseling, working through post break-up relationships, coaching with athletes, addressing women’s issues, collaborating with the LGBTQ+ community, to styling and consulting with professionals. For the past six years I have spent my energy researching mood and appearance. Prior to that, I have always been invested in the way clothing makes people feel, including myself. I feel so humbled and proud to now incorporate and put this all into creating my own design, I am moved. My purpose is to be a grounding force for my clients, inspiring them to feel good both inside and out. I do this by exploring the connection between what you wear and how you feel. There is such a strong correlation between the two. Clothing is a form of self-expression, we get to tell the world a little about who we are just by what we wear. Through my model, the Meltuition Model, I assist my clients through their self reflection process—making internal shifts which then naturally transforms their external appearance. By helping them present themselves in the way they want to look, feel and be, my clients feel empowered. I want my clients to shift their focus and energy to better understand who they are, where they have come from, and what has led them to the present. It is all about helping them turn their vision into reality. I am the biggest proponent of self reflection. It reinforces the therapeutic relationship and process, which allows my clients to thoughtfully consider how they want to create, design, and style their lives. I always tell them to take it minute by minute, as a self reflection process is lifelong. And I have to remind myself of this, as well. I feel like I’m not your average therapist, I’m a creative in this field. I like to add a different flair to the therapeutic setting, any setting, to make it fun, motivating, and reflective. In doing so, this enhances their internal and external blossoming. And for me, it’s exhilarating to witness these transformations.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
My Mel-itinerary of local spots is extensive! Food is a staple and in Miami there are so many great places. I enjoy many cuisines. If we are in a nice Sunday Funday brunch mood, I would go to Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge. I love the food, ambiance, and the location along the Miami River. It is so beautiful. For a low key, edgy brunch, Wynwood Diner is my go to place. That is always a stop if you come visit me, along with going to The Salty Donut for a sweet treat! Grabbing Panther Coffee with my donut makes it even better, their espresso is amazing! If we are also in the mood for a nice libation, Beaker and Gray has the set up for it, their Cava is exquisite! It is so fun to be in Wynwood because you can always hop around and try different spots. Now, if we are talking about a nice evening cuisine, one of my favorites is Greek. For a nice dinner out, I would go to the charming Mrs. Mandolin located in the Miami Design District, it is a hidden gem. I feel like I am experiencing Greece in Miami! Zuma Miami is also a great spot for amazing Japanese, the location downtown is convenient for walking to Biscayne Boulevard and strolling the Bay. If you want a great view go to The Rusty Pelican, I feel like that is getting a true visual of Miami. If you also want some local seafood, Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is delish. Get the snapper! From the food to the views, it provides a different taste to your palette. Literally. Heading over to Miami Beach, Juvia, on Lincoln Road is a vibe, the food and location is prime and the music is great as well. In Coral Gables, Bulla Gastrobar, is to die for! Their tapas and sangria are my favorite!! So delicious and satisfying every time. As much as I love a nice nice dinner, I really am one for trying different low key spot.There are so many places in Wynwood to Shout Out! Hands down, my favorite area in Miami. If you couldn’t tell already. From the culture, art scene, food, music…that is where you can find me. Most of my favorite places to eat and drink are located there. Let me set the tempo for the weekend out. I would either start with dinner at Palmar Miami, a Chinese restaurant that’s impeccable! Or start the night by going to 1-800 Lucky (my FAVORITE) the Asian food hall where you can order sushi, dumplings, egg rolls, noodles, even fried chicken! I get ALL OF THE ABOVE. And get a nice table inside or outside, with a refreshing Mai Tai, which they serve in a cute Maneki Neko (Good Fortune Cat) glass. Who doesn’t live for aesthetics like that? I know I do. And, after dinner, I always crave a sweet treat, so you’ll find me in line waiting for the infamous TAIYAKI NYC ice cream that is served in their fish shaped waffle cone. Extra sprinkles please! That paired with good music makes for the start of an evening. After that, I recommend Astra Miami for their rooftop views, Wynwood Diner for a drink, Gramps, Coyo Taco..not just for the tacos but the bar in the back, for some old school Hip Hop tunes, and dancing, if you so please. Now, if we want something more relaxing, go to Lagniappe. A place where you can buy wine by the bottle, create a nice charcuterie board with fine cheeses, and order dinner from their menu. Grab a seat on one of their patterned couches and tables in the outdoor venue. The glowing string lights add to the calming atmosphere. They have live music with some great bands and it is so nice to sit and have conversation without any interruptions. In Downtown/Brickell, Happy Hour is the best at Wharf Miami, their coconut mojitos are thirst quenching and it helps that they have an array of food trucks to choose from! It’s a fun spot with friends and a place to hang after work. Baby Jane is a nice spot for good Asian food and beverages. Okay, so If you couldn’t tell, I really enjoy Asian cuisine. The music is great, playing a lot of throwbacks. I always have a nice time there. EAST Miami has a great rooftop, Sugar, the views from the city are amazing. A nice spot for locals is Lost Boy and Mama Tried, you’ll be surprised as to how much fun you can have there. And, the place that never disappoints me is Blackbird Ordinary. Everyone knows, my friends know. This is the end of a night on an excursion with me. After, you can always grab a great burger or empanada from La Moon… I think they renamed it actually to New Moon? But that is the way to end the evening! Makes me hungry and thirsty! Now some places to spend time varies on what you are in the mood for. I love a day or night at The Standard, if you want to have a nice spa day or relax poolside it’s the spot-adults only. I don’t even feel like I am in Miami. It’s a retreat! If you want to go to the beach, I recommend Nikki Beach for the different energy and less crowds. For a day of adventure, bike over the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne, Crandon Park has a nice beach too where you can set up a picnic and relax. Coconut Grove has some hidden gems, Grab a novel from Books & Books, an iced latte from Panther Coffee, and set up a nice blanket at The Barnacle Historic Park. It is relaxing and for the days where you want to disconnect. If you really want to take in some lovely architects and use your photography skills, go to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. It’s breathtaking there. I enjoy the art culture scene so I encourage visiting the Pérez Art Museum Miami. While you are on Biscayne Boulevard, hang out in the park or if you’re lucky enough to catch a Miami Heat Game, definitely do so! Strolling Wynwood in the daytime is just as amazing as the night scene. You can walk around and look at the amazing graffiti murals on the walls, they all tell a different story. The galleries are great too, and if you’re lucky there might be some fun pop up shops too. It all depends, but that is the best thing to do, walk and explore. If you want to go shopping, Brickell City Center is great, you can always stop at Casa Tua, the Italian food hall, for a great pasta dish and pistachio cannoli if you need a break. Or, walk around the Miami Design District, look at the great art there as well, and stop by Swan Miami for a refreshing cocktail after a long day. I really love to find local events or concerts, the happenings in Miami. Miami has so much to offer- from exploring outside having a boat day or biking to just laying poolside and relaxing. There is so much to do and with such a vast and diverse city, you can have any type of cultural experience, I think by getting out and doing these things, it adds to my personal rhythm and how I really try to juggle the professionalism side as well as my fun creative side.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh I love a good shout out!! Honestly, I am so grateful for the unconditional love and support from my older sister, Dr. Nafeeza Hussain. She has been such an inspiration in my life and has always motivated and encouraged me to follow my MELTUITION. There have been so many times I have felt doubtful as a person or even in my career, but she continuously reminds me of my self worth. She always tells me to be nice to myself and that there is no perfect or right way to do what you want in life. That’s something I admire and she always looks out for me. She is my best friend and THE BEST hype woman I could ever have. She’s my sis! We all deserve someone in our lives that will hype us up. My parents have played a big role in my success, always being patient with me and supporting everything I do. I have to say having parents that immigrated to this country makes me value and cherish their hard work and dedication even more. If anyone knows how to juggle, it’s them. They taught me knowledge is power and the importance of being an independent woman. I cherish them. These three have been there from the beginning of my story, they deserve the most recognition! They have never given up on me, I truly have the best team. I am also grateful to have lasting friendships from my childhood to those fun, college years. They have grown with me in a unique way and continue to show their support. Even though we don’t live close, I always feel their energy. I have also made such beautiful friends in South Florida, relationships that are going to last a lifetime. Each person has played a pivotal role in my process, you all know who you are. I really wouldn’t be in this professional stage if it wasn’t for my professors who have turned loyal mentors. They have supported my research and continue to be an integral part of my process. My colleagues have become such a resource of knowledge, helping me build an amazing network. Most of my friends are therapists and I am lucky to have them all in one. Lastly, I want to thank Blayne J. Yudis, JD. He encourages my creativity and continuously reminds me that I am forging my own path. He showed me Miami through a lens that has shaped and inspired me, our experiences together are unforgettable. To everyone, I love and appreciate you. You all are a big part of this vision I am trying to create for myself.

Website: meltuition.com
Instagram: @meltuition
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/drmelaniehussain
Facebook: Melanie Hussain, MS
Youtube: meltuition
Other: Email: followyourmeltuition@gmail.com

Image Credits
Grace Elliott and Nafeeza Hussain, MD, MPH

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