Melanie Payne, LMSW

Melanie Payne, LMSW, is a Licensed Master Social Worker and innovative mental health professional specializing in anger management, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and experiential, accountability-based therapeutic interventions. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, she is the founder of Mel’s Logic, where she provides individual and group therapy services to adolescents, adults, and justice-involved populations. Known for her dynamic and engagement-driven clinical style, Payne focuses on helping clients develop emotional awareness, behavioral accountability, and practical life strategies that support long-term personal growth and stability.

Payne has built a strong reputation for designing interactive therapeutic programs that move beyond traditional talk therapy. She is the creator of the Experiential Engagement & Accountability-Based Therapy Model, an approach that integrates emotional regulation, decision-making skills, and real-world application through experiential learning. Her structured group modules—such as “Don’t Lose Your King,” “Stinking Thinking,” and “Reclaiming Disowned Parts”—combine cognitive behavioral principles with creative methods including role-play, music integration, and game-based interventions to increase client participation and retention.

Her clinical work spans community programs, schools, and behavioral health settings, where she facilitates therapy groups addressing trauma, anger management, emotional regulation, and behavioral change. Payne is particularly recognized for her ability to connect with underserved youth and individuals navigating complex life circumstances. By creating safe and structured therapeutic environments, she empowers participants to identify emotional triggers, strengthen coping skills, and take ownership of their personal development.

Academically, Payne earned her Master of Social Work from Morgan State University, graduating magna cum laude and receiving honors including the Elmer Martin Student of the Year Award and induction into the Phi Alpha Kappa Zeta Social Work Honors Society. Her educational background also includes a Bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University, complemented by specialized training in trauma-informed care, anger management, and behavioral interventions. Her academic excellence reflects a deep commitment to advancing effective and compassionate mental health care.

Beyond her clinical achievements, Payne’s professional mission is deeply shaped by personal resilience and lived experience. Having overcome profound adversity and personal loss, she brings authenticity and empathy to her work, using her story to inspire healing and hope. She continues to expand her impact through program development, public speaking, and future writing projects focused on resilience and mental health advocacy. Through her practice and leadership, Melanie Payne is redefining therapy as an engaging, empowering, and accountability-driven path toward lasting transformation.

• 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.