Melanie Payne, LMSW

Melanie Payne, LMSW, is a dedicated mental health professional and Licensed Master Social Worker based in Baltimore, Maryland, recognized for her innovative approach to therapy, program development, and client engagement. With specialized expertise in anger management, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and accountability-based interventions, she has built a reputation for helping individuals develop healthier emotional responses, improve decision-making skills, and achieve meaningful personal growth. Her work is grounded in the belief that therapy should be practical, engaging, and directly applicable to everyday life.

As the founder of Mel’s Logic, Payne provides individual and group therapy services to adolescents, adults, and justice-involved populations. She facilitates structured therapeutic programs focused on emotional regulation, accountability, behavioral change, and personal development. Through the use of CBT techniques, experiential learning activities, and real-world problem-solving exercises, she empowers clients to recognize maladaptive thought patterns, strengthen coping skills, and take ownership of their choices and behaviors.

A passionate innovator in the behavioral health field, Payne has developed a proprietary Experiential Engagement & Accountability-Based Therapy Model designed to increase participation, retention, and long-term outcomes. This model combines emotional awareness, behavioral accountability, and experiential learning strategies to create a more interactive therapeutic experience. Her curriculum includes unique programs such as “Don’t Lose Your King,” which uses chess-based frameworks to teach decision-making and life strategy; “Stinking Thinking,” which addresses cognitive distortions and behavior alignment; and “Reclaiming Disowned Parts,” which focuses on identity integration and emotional awareness.

Throughout her career, Payne has demonstrated a commitment to creating meaningful therapeutic experiences through group facilitation, curriculum design, and community-based mental health programming. She has led men’s and women’s therapy groups, developed music therapy–based curricula, and designed life skills and decision-making programs for youth and high-risk populations. Her innovative use of therapeutic games, role-playing exercises, guided discussions, and interactive tools has helped foster stronger client engagement while supporting emotional growth and behavioral change.

Payne earned her Master of Social Work from Morgan State University and her bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University. Her academic achievements include graduating Magna Cum Laude, being named Elmer Martin Student of the Year, and induction into the Phi Alpha Kappa Zeta Social Work Honors Society. Licensed in the State of Maryland, she remains committed to transforming traditional therapy into an engaging, real-world, accountability-driven process that empowers individuals to take control of their emotions, decisions, and future outcomes.

• Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
• Morgan State University - M.S.W.
• Full Sail University - Bachelor's Degree

• Licensed Therapist
• Licensed in Anger Management
• ADHD Certification (in progress)
• Trauma-Informed Care Certification (in progress)

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Morgan State University
• Top of Class at Morgan State University
• Honor Society Member at Morgan State University
• Elmer Martin Student of the Year

• Honor Society at Morgan State University
• National Association of Social Workers

• Community-based youth mental health outreach
• School and recovery-house therapeutic programming
• Advocacy and support for underserved inner-city youth populations

I am currently writing a book about turning trauma into triumph, sharing my personal experiences of overcoming being set on fire, sexual assault, multiple suicide attempts as a child, and molestation. The book will focus on how these painful experiences, though I didn't understand them at the time, made me the powerhouse I am today. I am working with a coach who is encouraging me to complete this project.