I am Melisa Nohadani-Rafie, a Clinical Psychologist, who was born and raised in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. From a young age I was interested in the psyche, specifically in the part which is hidden - the Unconscious. I was around 9 years old, when I started to engage with my own dreams.
In my early 20s, after I have worked and travelled across continents for several years, I started my studies in Psychology in Amsterdam. There, I deepened a steady meditation practice and learned about the powers of our mind within and beyond lecture halls.
Through friends I discovered icebathing and the Wim Hof Method which lead me to researching the psychology of ice baths, breathwork, and meditation in the company of Wim Hof. I deepened my understanding of the mind-body connection and how much influence we actually have on our own wellbeing. Later on, I returned to Germany for a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with a psychoanalytic orientation. I was mesmerized by the theories about our unconscious mind and how much our unconscious influences our day to day life. With the curiosity that woke up within me, I ran a study in New York City with the American Psychoanalytic Association on how meditation shapes therapists’ clinical work in spring 2025.
To this day, I enjoy my daily meditation practice and am grateful for the wisdom that comes through my practice. I believe, that the way a therapist enters the room can strongly influence the trajectory of a therapeutic session. With my practice, I ensure to enter the therapeutic room with presence and attunement - so that that which needs to be witnessed, feels safe enough to arise.
Education
Heilpraktiker for Psychotherapy (2026)
Workshop/Seminar in Personality Styles by Dr. Jonathan Shedler (2026)
Training in Internal Family Sytems (IFS) Therapy through Richard Schwartz (2025)
M.A. Clinical Psychology International Psychoanalytic University (2023-2025)Mandala Method Certification (Level 1) - Tibetan Buddhist Visualization Technique (2025)
Psychological Research Assistent Innerfire (Wim Hof Method) (2022-2023
B.Sc. Psychology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2019-2022)
Experience
Private Practice Psychological Counseling (2025)
Research Stay (Psychoanalysis and Meditation) in New York City at the American Psychoanalytic Association (April -July 2025)
Psychologist at IPU outpatient clinic Berlin - Intern (2024-2025)
Research Assistant at International Psychoanalytic University Berlin (2024)
Project Manager and Counselor for Aktion gegen den Hunger (2023)
Project Manager and Counselor for Amnesty International Germany (2019-2022)