Melissa Osen LCSW

A Chance 4 Change was born from a story I never wanted to live. In 2009, I lost my son Chance at ten years old. In the years that followed, I learned — the hard way — what trauma does to a body, a mind, a family, and a future. I also learned that the right kind of help, at the right time, changes everything. This practice carries his name because he changed mine. Today, A Chance 4 Change is a trauma-informed clinical center in Twin Falls, Idaho — serving children, teens, adults, families, first responders, and medical providers across the Magic Valley. We are licensed clinicians with over 30 combined years of experience, trained in the therapies that actually help people get their lives back. And we are, every single one of us, people who believe that healing is possible — because we've watched it happen, again and again, in the rooms we sit in every day. — Melissa Osen, LCSW Founder & Clinical Director What Makes Us Different Every clinician on our team is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) — a research-backed trauma therapy developed by Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, that resolves the impact of traumatic experiences, anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, and chronic stress in just 1–5 sessions. ART uses gentle eye movements and a process the client controls to help people keep the knowledge of what happened — but lose the pain, the images, and the physical reactions that come with it. You don't have to talk about the details of what happened. You don't have to re-live anything to heal from it. You don't have to wait years to feel different. We're not a chain. We're a team. Every client is seen by a real human who knows your name, your story, and your goals. Our office manager, Shelby, is the first voice you'll hear when you call — and she cares about your first impression as much as we care about your first session. We treat trauma as injury — not as identity. Especially for first responders and medical providers: what you're carrying isn't a disorder. It's a wound sustained in the line of duty. And like any injury, it can heal. We have a therapy dog. Chloe is a certified therapy dog and a standard poodle who genuinely runs our office. Meet Your Team Melissa Osen, LCSW Founder & Clinical Director Training & Certifications: - Master Level ART Practitioner - Compassionate Inquiry Certified (Gabor Maté lineage) - EMDR Trained - Cordico ERPSCC Trained (Emergency Responder & Public Safety Counselor) - Idaho Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator & Parent Coordinator - CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) Certified - Trained in CBT and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Awards & Recognition: - St. Luke's President's Award - Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce Extra Mile Award Specialties: Trauma recovery, first responder mental health, complex family systems, adolescents, court-involved families, reunification therapy, critical incident response. In Melissa's own words: "I've been doing this work for over twenty years — and the thing I know most deeply is that the people who come in carrying the heaviest loads are almost always the ones who have been told their whole lives that they are the strong ones. If life has been hard and you're still showing up anyway… this is your place." Silvia Renova-Gaxiola, LPC Specialties: Children, adolescents, families, trauma, abuse recovery, and complex family dynamics. Silvia brings deep experience from her clinical work at CARES (Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services), where she supported children and families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. Her approach is patient, grounded, and deeply compassionate — the kind of clinician you want beside a scared kid or a parent in crisis. Trained in ART. Bilingual services available (English/Spanish). Maira Torres, LMSW Specialties: Adolescents, families, trauma survivors, anxiety, depression, life transitions. Maira is warm, grounded, and remarkably attuned to the people in front of her. She works especially well with teens who have been shut down by other therapists, and with adults who are ready to move through what they've been carrying for too long. Trained in ART, DBT, and Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT). Bilingual services available (English/Spanish). Evan Maynard, LMSW Specialties: Adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, men's mental health. Evan brings a thoughtful, steady, client-centered presence to every session. He works especially well with clients who have tried therapy before and are looking for something that actually moves the needle, couples ready to do the work together, and men who have been taught their whole lives that asking for help is weakness." Trained in ART. Shelby Simons Office Manager Shelby is the first voice you'll hear when you call us — and the reason this office runs smoothly. She coordinates scheduling, insurance verification, billing, and referrals with warmth, competence, and genuine care for every person who walks through our door. If you have a question about insurance, paperwork, or scheduling, Shelby has your answer. Chloe Certified Therapy Dog Chloe is a standard poodle, a beloved member of our team, and by all internal accounts, the true boss of A Chance 4 Change. She is certified as a therapy dog and completes ongoing training to support clients of all ages in session. She is especially loved by kids, teens, and first responders who find it easier to open up with a warm presence nearby. Our Specialties - Trauma (single-incident, complex, developmental, critical incident) - Post-Traumatic Injury (PTSI) / PTSD - Anxiety (generalized, social, panic, performance) - Depression and persistent low mood - Grief and loss (including pregnancy loss, child loss, divorce) - Phobias (including medical, needle, flying, driving) - Sleep disruption and nightmares - Chronic stress and burnout - First responder mental health & nervous system regulation - Adolescent mental health, anxiety, and behavioral challenges - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for ages 2–7 - Co-parenting and blended family challenges - Reunification therapy (court-involved families) - Family court evaluations and parent coordination - Self-esteem, self-criticism, and inner critic work - Relationship distress and communication What is post-traumatic injury? The term post-traumatic injury (sometimes called post-traumatic stress injury, or PTSI) reframes the nervous system's response to cumulative or acute trauma as a wound — not a disorder. Like any injury sustained in the line of duty, it's treatable. And recovery is expected. For first responders and medical professionals, PTSI can look like: - Intrusive memories or flashbacks - Hypervigilance, or feeling "always on" - Sleep disruption, nightmares, or insomnia - Emotional numbing, disconnection from loved ones - Irritability or anger that feels bigger than the moment - Physical symptoms: chronic tension, gut issues, headaches, unexplained pain - Difficulty being present with your family - A sense that you used to be someone else — and you want that person back Ready to start? Three ways to reach us: 1. Schedule online Client Portal — Schedule Here (Takes about 5 minutes.) 2. Call us 208-944-9776 Shelby answers the phone Monday–Friday. If we miss you, we'll call back within one business day. 3. Email admin@achance4change.net For non-urgent questions. You don't have to do this alone anymore. We're here when you're ready. — Melissa & the A Chance 4 Change team 🧡💙