Melissa Osen LCSW

A Chance 4 Change was built from a story I never wanted to live. In 2009, I lost my son Chance. He was 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 his life 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 more than 30 combined years of experience, trained in the therapies that actually help people get their lives back. And every one of us believes healing is possible — because we watch 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. ART resolves the impact of traumatic experiences, anxiety, depression, grief, phobias, and chronic stress — often in just one to five sessions. Using gentle eye movements and a process the client controls, ART helps you keep the knowledge of what happened while losing 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 relive 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 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, a standard poodle, and — by all internal accounts — the one who actually runs our office. Meet Your Team Melissa Osen, LCSW — Founder & Clinical Director Specialties: Trauma recovery, first responder mental health, complex family systems, adolescents, court-involved families, reunification therapy. 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 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 carrying the heaviest loads are almost always the ones who've been told their whole lives that they're 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, and 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: Couples and marriage counseling, young adults, men's mental health, substance use, trauma, anxiety and depression, fatherhood and parenting, and premarital counseling. Evan brings a thoughtful, steady, client-centered presence to every session. He works especially well with clients who have tried therapy before and want something that actually moves the needle, couples ready to do the work together, and men who've been taught their whole lives that asking for help is weakness. Trained in ART, CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, the Gottman Method, motivational interviewing, and substance abuse treatment. Shelby Simons — Office Manager Shelby is the first voice you'll hear when you call — 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 completes ongoing training to support clients of all ages in session, and 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, and divorce) Phobias (including medical, needle, flying, and driving) Sleep disruption and nightmares Chronic stress and burnout First responder mental health and 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 acute or cumulative 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 and 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 🧡💙