Meet Mel
Mel Long, LCSW
Founder of Within and Between
I’m a licensed clinical social worker and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 2 trained therapist, as well as a Program Assistant with the IFS Institute. Through my work at Within and Between, my aim is to support therapists in deepening their confidence and connection to the IFS model in a way that feels grounded, relational, and authentic.
While I’ve worked with a wide range of experiences—including trauma, anxiety, and depression—I’m drawn to the non-pathologizing nature of IFS. Rather than focusing on diagnosis, I hold space for the full complexity of what it means to be human. I believe this model has the capacity to meet people wherever they are, without judgment, and with deep respect for every part of their experience.
In my work, I aim to create a space where therapists can slow down, get curious, and trust that they don’t have to have all the answers. From this place, more authentic and transformative work becomes possible.
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy being with my spouse and 4 year old, eating good food & being silly. I also enjoy a good psychological thriller while drinking a caramel latte.
Why IFS
I was drawn to Internal Family Systems because of the lens it offered me—a way of seeing myself that felt genuinely kind, curious, and free of judgment. That was something I hadn’t experienced before in that way.
What really made it click for me was experiencing Self energy firsthand. There was a moment where I wasn’t trying to fix anything or figure anything out—I was simply present. Calm, clear, connected. And from that place, everything felt different.
I also began to notice this shift in my relationships. Being in connection where Self was leading allowed me to show up more authentically—to be fully myself, without needing to manage how I was perceived. That experience stayed with me.
IFS has changed how I see people, both personally and professionally. I find myself holding a deep belief that we are all interconnected, and that when people are able to access more Self energy—individually and collectively—there’s so much more possibility for healing, connection, and growth.
I’m less interested in getting to the “right” answer, and more interested in helping you build a relationship with your clients’ parts. Because I truly believe that the self-to-part relationship is where lasting change happens.
IFS has helped me become a therapist who can sit with not knowing. A therapist who can notice my own parts when they’re activated, without letting them take over. And a therapist who can stay present with both my internal experience and my clients’—creating a space where healing can unfold naturally, rather than being forced.
Benefits of IFS
Parts Awareness
Internal Family Systems helps clients understand and relate to different parts of themselves with more clarity. This can make complex emotions feel more manageable and less overwhelming
Self-Compassion
It promotes self-compassion by reducing shame and internal conflict. Clients often begin to treat themselves with greater patience and kindness.
Flexible Framework
It provides a structured yet flexible framework for working with trauma and emotional patterns. This allows therapists to adapt the approach to a wide range of client needs.