Instagram story viewer> @iamdrmel> Posts

Melissa “Dr. Mel” Robinson-Brown|Psychologist+Badass Architect

@iamdrmel

16.5K

followers

3726

following

Helping high-achieving women who’ve checked every box but still feel unfulfilled
Girl Mom 💕| Fitness💪🏾
Exhausted from carrying everything?Start here👇🏾

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Sticks and stones….

They called me an ‘incompetent Black b***.’ I bet they never imagined what Black women like me could really do.

In 2017, I left my so-called “dream job” when it turned into a nightmare of dismissal, doubt, and toxicity. It didn’t matter how hard I worked or bent myself, it was never enough!

I knew no woman should have to endure abuse as a means to success. So I built my own space for women to break the rules, to thrive, and to go from “I don’t think I can” to “Oh, I absolutely did that.”

Building this vision wasn’t easy. I lost $60K in a single year, felt isolated, and doubted myself.

But then Essence Wellness House (@essence) called, asking me not just to speak—but to lead. Standing in front of that camera, I knew: I was on a mission.

Today, I’m building a multi-six-figure business where every woman feels seen, valued, and powerful, free to make badass moves on her terms.

If you’re ready to color outside the lines, to live boldly, and break free from outdated rules, let’s do it together. 💥

Follow, like, and share!

Then go binge the rest of my badass content!

#UnapologeticallyMe #WomenSupportingWomen #ColorOutsideTheLines #BadassWomen #AuthenticityOverApproval #BlackWomenInBusiness #BreakTheRules #badasswoman #drmelbadass #mindsetcoachingforwomen #mindsetcoach #confidencecoach #founderstory #blackgirlmagic #nyctherapist #empoweredwomenempowerwomen #empoweredwomen by @iamdrmel

399

50

2 years ago

Leave the archaic patriarchal Eurocentric ideas of professionalism in 2022! Thinking about coloring your hair or wearing a colorful lip? Here’s your sign. Just do it! Make that your pivot for February.

So often we get caught up in what’s “professional” and what isn’t. Honestly, that’s bullsh$t. Somebody else made those rules and they just aren’t working anymore!

What have you been wanting to try but you’ve hesitated because of “professionalism?
.
.
.Ready to redefine your take on professionalism and step fully into your badassery? Get on the waitlist for my new initiative Developing Your Badass. Link in the bio or comment I’m ready and we’ll get you in!
.
#professionalism #blackpsychologist #nyctherapist #nyctherapist #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #blackgirlrocks #pivot #naturalhair #coloredhairgirl #boldlipstick #iamdrmel #renewedfocus taken in Secaucus, New Jersey by @iamdrmel

8k

54

4 years ago

Are you ready to turn your what-ifs into realities? Look, we spend so much time envisioning and dreaming, but not NEARLY enough time going after exactly what we want. It’s time to take a chance on YOURSELF! Think about what your life could look like if you did everything you said you would do. How would things change for you in 1 week, 6 months, 5 years? Got those images in your head? Now hold that as your WHY and LET’S DO THIS!

Share ONE thing in the comments that you are about to go after starting today! Like and follow for more tips!

#startyourjourneytohealth #startyourimpossible #startyourwhatifs #whatif #envision #envisioning #startyourownbusiness #livethelifeyouwant #livingthedreamlife #entrepreneurtips #entrepreneurlifestlye #privatepracticeowner #privatepractice #privatepracticetherapist #iamdrmel #renewedfocus taken in Secaucus, New Jersey by @iamdrmel

338

2

4 years ago

Would you just do it already?!?! 👀

You know…all those fun, funky hair colors you’ve been saving to your Pinterest board but keep talking yourself out of?

DO IT. 😂

Hair has always been one of the ways I play with who I am. Color it. Cut it. Shave it. Grow it. Switch it up again.

It does not have to be that damn serious.

Sometimes we treat every choice like it needs to be permanent before we give ourselves permission to try it.

It doesn’t.

You’re allowed to experiment with yourself.
You’re allowed to change your mind.
You’re allowed to decide, “Well…that was cute for three weeks.” 🤣
And you’re allowed to discover a version of you that you LOVE.

Worst case? You change it again.

Best case?

You look in the mirror and think, OH. THERE SHE IS. 😏🔥

And if you’ve been looking for a sign to do the bold thing, the scary thing, the “but what if I actually did it?” thing…follow along.

Consider me your permission slip. 😏🔥

Now tell me: what’s something you’ve been wanting to do but keep talking yourself out of? 👀👇🏾

#PermissionEnergy #DoTheScaryThing #BoldHair #BlackWomenWithStyle #highachievingwomen by @iamdrmel

66

10

a day ago

Just doing my little sister duties. 😂😂😂

What role do you play on the girls’ trip?

#BirthdayTrip #SisterTrip #LittleSisterEnergy #BlackGirlTravel #VacationVibes by @iamdrmel

165

4

10 days ago

Psychologist mode: ACTIVATED. 🧠✨

Time off was exactly what this CEO needed. But I already know my people have been patiently collecting every plot twist to share once I’m back in that chair.

And believe it or not, a LOT can happen in two weeks:

Proposals. Divorce decisions. Losses. Promotions. Breakthroughs. Kids driving you up the damn wall. And, of course…

“Dr. Mel, these b*tches tried to take me out—but GOD!” 😂😂😂

Followed closely by:

“Dr. Mel, this ALWAYS happens when you go on vacation. It’s like the universe is conspiring against me.” 😭

BUT…no worries..…I’m baaaaccckkkkk! 💁🏾‍♀️

Who else creates full-blown novels—or keeps a running list of notes—for their therapist while they’re on vacation?

#BlackTherapist #MentalHealthHumor #TherapistLife #BackFromVacation #HighAchievingWomen by @iamdrmel

171

17

21 days ago

Another one in the books!

Time is flying and my mama heart is all a flutter!

11th, 9th, and 4th grade!

Also, K3 insisted we make a custom shirt for her first day, so this was our result! Not bad…not bad at all!

Happy school year everyone!

#firstdayofschool2026 #blackmomlife #blackgirlmagic #girlmom #psychologistmom by @iamdrmel

67

6

a month ago

This was supposed to get posted 10 weeks ago.

And I dropped the ball. But all of a sudden the algorithm gave my first post legs again.

Maybe it’s because mental health care has been heavy in the news lately. Have y’all been following this Lindsay Clancy case?

Or maybe it’s the story I just saw on Threads about a therapist who charged a late fee when someone’s grandfather unexpectedly passed away and the client couldn’t make the session. Said “thanks for letting me know” and then reiterated charging the fee. 😳🤦🏾‍♀️

I needed to bring this back.

Cause here’s what ties all of this harm together: it’s not necessarily incompetence. It’s a therapist who never learned where they end and the client begins. The one asking for reviews. The one doing sessions at the car repair shop or while walking their dog. The supervisor signing off and promoting dual relationships. Different violations, same root: the session got made about the therapist and not about the client.

If you’ve ever sensed that shift and couldn’t name it, that instinct was correct. You just needed someone to confirm it wasn’t normal.

Would anyone want a list of questions to ask a therapist before starting sessions? And language to use when you feel like something’s off?

Drop a 🙋🏾‍♀️ in the comments and I’ll work on making it for you.

I want people to feel safe out in these therapeutic streets.

#TherapistsOfInstagram #TherapyTikTok #MentalHealthAdvocate #ClientRights #EthicsMatter by @iamdrmel

483

32

a month ago

Kinda chic to catch yourself already fast-forwarding to what’s next — instead of sitting in what you already built.

That’s what happened to me this week. I caught myself doing the thing I tell my clients to stop doing: skipping past pride and going straight to “okay, but what’s next.” So today I’m just sitting in it.

I’m a Black psychologist. There aren’t a lot of us. My solo side hustle has grown into a full blown group practice that has been thriving for twelve years and is turning into a full wellness company — one where I employ Black women. I built the thing I didn’t have.

If you’re someone who’s always thinking about the next milestone instead of the one you’re standing on — this is your permission to pause too.

Tag a Black woman clinician who needs to see this today. 🖤

#BlackTherapistsMatter #BlackWomenInBusiness #GroupPractice #TherapistsOfIG #KindaChic by @iamdrmel

361

60

a month ago

There’s the cost of hiring help—and then there’s the cost of not hiring it.

The late fee.
The missed deadline.
The hours spent thinking about a task you still haven’t done.
The irritability that follows you into other rooms.
The shame spiral that turns “I need to organize this pile” into “Why can’t I get my life together?”

That’s the part we rarely calculate.

High-achieving women are often willing to pay for their lack of capacity with time, energy, peace and self-esteem—but feel guilty paying someone else to help.

Hiring an organizer won’t solve every problem. But it can change the environment in which you’re trying to solve them.

A clear desk won’t complete the application for you—but it may give your brain a calmer place to begin. An organized playroom won’t eliminate parenting stress—but it removes one source of visual and mental noise. A deep clean won’t heal burnout—but it can give you one less thing to recover from.

Support doesn’t mean you’re incapable.

Sometimes it simply creates the base from which your capacity can return.

Before you say, “I should be able to do this myself,” ask a better question:

“What is it costing me to keep doing it alone?”

What’s one task you would take off your plate if you gave yourself permission?

#HighAchievingWomen #Overfunctioning #MentalLoad #WomenAndBurnout #AskForHelp by @iamdrmel

67

10

2 months ago

This is my new therapy adjacent hack!

The women who need support the most rarely say “I need help.”

They say “I should be able to handle this.”

But girl, we have got to erase that limited thinking from your mindset. Cause trying to take on everything yourself means you are moving into overfunctioning territory and that will burn you out REAL quick!

That one word — should — had me sitting in chaos for six months rather than letting someone help me for three hours.

I knew I wanted to turn my home office into “my sanctuary.” But it needed decluttering.

Except “declutter office” sat on my goals list for months. I kept moving it to next week. Later became a pile. The pile became a room I avoided walking into.

I finally called my organizer and she built enough of a base that I could move again.

And the women who have been giving this a try? Addictive might be a word I’ve heard more times than I can count 🤣🤣🤣

Exhaustion is not evidence of good character. You do not get extra credit for being the most depleted person in your house.

Save this for the season when you’re ready to let things go. And then send it to a friend so you can hold each other accountable.

#Overfunctioning #BurnoutRecovery #HighAchievingWomen #TherapistsOfInstagram #mentalload by @iamdrmel

55

1

2 months ago

95

14

2 months ago