Melody 盈希 Li
Collective Liberation & HealingMental health Justice co-conspiratoR
About Melody (佢/they)
I’m a queer therapist of the Asian diaspora, speaker, and mental health justice co-conspirator.
I founded Inclusive Therapists: a social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub centering people with multiply-marginalized identities.
Our non-profit ecosystem, Mental Health Liberation, bridges Black, Indigenous and People of Color/Global Majority with free, quality therapy services, and empowers Students & Clinicians of Color.
My activism focuses on collective liberation and healing, co-creating as we disrupt and dismantle.
I invite you to get to know more about me, the communities I love, and to connect.
Melody Ying-Hei Li
Work with Melody
Ways to CollaborateSpeaker, Panelist, Educator
Decolonizing Mental Health
Mental Health Justice and Liberation
Tending to Racialized Trauma During Crisis
Collective Liberation and Solidarity
2SLGBTQ+ Mental Wellness, Deconstructing the Binary
Asian Diaspora Mental Health, with focus on smashing: white cishet-patriarchy, racialized sexualization, and model minority myth
Reckoning with Colonial-Christian Violence Towards Queer, Trans, and Nonbinary People of Color
Consultation
I offer consultation to organizations and institutions such as ACLU Oregon and Seminary of the Southwest.
Areas of Speciality
Beyond Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Moving Towards Liberatory, Anti-colonial Practice
Mental Health Justice and Liberation
Tending to Racialized Trauma & Honoring Intersectionality in Organizations and Institutions
Community Care for Leaders, Clinicians, and Students of Color
Cultivating Inclusive, Decolonial, Anti-Oppressive Therapeutic and Relational Practices
Collective Care
Free, culturally responsive mental health care for Black, Indigenous and People of Color
Our Programs:
BIPOC Therapy Fund
12 free quality therapy sessions with liberation-oriented BIPOC providers
Liberatory Student Support Circle
Supporting BIP&OC students in mental health, psychology & social work
Melody Li is a wonderful professional to work with! They shared their professionalism, wisdom, authenticity and kindness during their training titled “Tending to Anti-Asian Racialized Trauma Through Decolonial, Collective Healing” for the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health housed at UT Austin.
Not only the participants shared great feedback and were truly excited to be part of the training, but our staff team was so pleased to be part of the planning process. They’re a joy to work with and an incredible educator to learn from/with. Thank you Melody for all you do!
Beyond Diversity, equity & inclusion
liberatory Speaker & educator
Decolonizing Mental Health Care, BIPOC Mental Wellness
With many organizations, including: Trane Technologies, Bain & Company, YWCA, Cornell University, Scaling Up: Be Bold Summit, and more
Mental Health, Collective Liberation and Activism
With many organizations, including: Institute for the Development of Human Arts, Columbia University, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and more
Tending to Racialized Trauma & Ruptures
With many organizations, including: YWCA, University of Texas, Lines for Life, and more.
Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
Celebrating Gender Expansiveness & Creating Affirming Community
At J2 Global
Decolonizing Mental Health for Students
Clarkson University & St. Lawrence University
Healing the Migrant Healer
Empowered Learning Summit
Digital Space & Mental Health
Panel with Dr. Joy, Charli xcx, Hayley Williams
Queer Talks
Migrant Experience X Queerness
Mental Health Liberation
LIBERATE
HEAL
THRIVE
As a colony-born migrant and diasporic settler on Turtle Island embodying many structural privileges, I advocate for Landback & Indigenous sovereignty, Black liberation and reparations, restoration of Land, and liberation of all humans and other-than-humans facing oppression, violence, exploitation, silencing, erasure, and forced displacement.
The change starts with my own unlearning and healing, to develop heightened awareness of ways I perpetuate harm.
I use my position as a therapist, voice as a queer person of Color, and ancestral knowledge to advance mental health justice in community. Visit: Inclusive Therapists and Mental Health Liberation.
That was amazing, above and beyond anything I could have imagined. I am so grateful for you and the wonderful work that you do!
I’m still getting people emailing me with such positive feedback. No less than 6 people have told me, “It’s the best training you’ve ever brought to Lines for Life”.
What you taught so well was that trauma lives in the body, and we can’t just talk about it in intellectual terms. We have to be with our bodies and heal ourselves so that we can do the important healing work with others.
Tending to Racialized Trauma & Rupture Workshop
Melody partnered with Ryan Dillon and Prism, our LBGTQIA+ Employee Resource Group to create and facilitate an incredibly in-depth, educational, and empathetic webinar, “Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health,” as part of our company’s Pride celebrations.
Prism members were proud that the webinar truly centered them and took an intersectional approach when this is so often not the case.
Employees outside of the LGBTQIA+ community have shared that this webinar gave them the tools, understanding, and even the bravery to have conversations, make mistakes, and take action toward allyship.
We were so thrilled to work with Melody and so proud to present their teaching to our global workforce.
My PeoplE
Communities I Foster
Inclusive Therapists
Mental health directory, community, education, and resources celebrating and centering on people with marginalized identities
Mental Health Liberation
Austin Therapists of Color
Professional support + collective care for BI&POC mental health professionals, academics, interns and students
It was a pleasure to bring Mel to work with our leaders (“Decolonizing Mental Health for Leaders” Keynote). Their commitment to truth and care was uplifting and impactful to our leaders as they navigate such an extraordinary time. Mel helped us create the space for people to remember that they are humans, not human resources. This is something we hold dear as we move through the world.
Featured In the Press
In the Media on Mental Health Liberation and Inclusive Therapists
- The Guardian: ‘Don’t burn out’: nine activists and therapists on coping with post-election overwhelm
- Wondermind: 5 Mental Health Reminders for Indigenous Peoples in the U.S.
- Everyday Health: How to Find an LGBTQ+-Affirming Therapist
- Everyday Health: How to Find a Therapist Who Understands Black Identity
- Very Well Mind: How Will I Know If I’ve Found True Love? Lasting connection and intimacy take work
- Money: Best Online Therapy: Best for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC
- Verywell Health: Where to Find LGBTQIA+ Counseling Online
- Health Digest: Expert Tips On Finding The Right Mental Health Therapist For You
- People: Find the Best Online Therapy Services for Your Particular Needs – Best for BIPOC Communities
- Shape: Best LGBTQIA+ Counseling Service, Best for Inclusivity
- Health.com: Best Directory (Best Online Therapy Services)
- LA Times: What it means to have a culturally responsive therapist and why it matters
- Compass: The Future of Sex Work
- Shape: Best Online Therapy Providers for BIPOC
- NPR: How some therapists are helping patients heal by tackling structural racism
- The Good Men Project: How to Find a Therapist, Step by Step
- HuffPost: How To Find A Therapist Who Focuses On Latine Mental Health
- HipLatina: Neurodiversity in the Latinx Community: Diagnosis and Lack of Access to Help
- Shape: How Sliding-Scale Pricing Models Are Making Health and Wellness Services More Accessible
- Yahoo: How to figure out if a therapist is the right fit
- Huffpost: How To Find A Therapist Who Focuses On Asian American Mental Health
- People: The Beginner’s Guide to Finding a Therapist
- US News: How to Find a Culturally Competent Therapist
-
Mental Health First Aid: Black Mental Health Matters: A Resource Guide
- Voyage Austin: Meet Melody Li of Inclusive Therapists
- Yahoo: 11 Mental Health Resources For the LGBTQ+ Community That Will Help You Feel Seen
- Insider: Bisexual Visibility Day: What it means to be bi+ and how you can support and celebrate the community
- The Good Men Project: How to Talk to Loved Ones About Mental Health
- One Green Planet: 8 Mental Health Resources for People of Color
- The Washington Post: How to Cope with Race-based Stress
- Psych Central: Mental Health Resources for People of Color and Indigenous People
- The Humanist: Mental Health Access for Marginalized Communities
- Travel + Leisure: 14 Mental Health Resources for the BIPOC Community
- Hypebae: Dr. Jessica Clemons on Bridging the Gap Between Mental Health, Black Culture and the Hip Hop Community
- Today: What is culturally competent therapy? Here’s why that matters now more than ever
- Buzzfeed News: I’m A Woman Of Color. Why Do I Ignore That When It Comes To My Mental Health?
- The Today Show: 5 women of color changing the face of therapy for their communities
- The Zoe Report: 7 Mental Health & Wellness Resources That Support Asian-American Communities
- UTexas: Supporting Grief, Education, and Action in the Wake of Violence Against AAPI Communities
- Popsugar: These Mental Health Resources Were Created For the AAPI Community, and They’re Available If You Need Help
- NAMI: Mental Health Care for BIPOC: Tips and Resources
- Spectrum News: Mental Health Resources for Asian Americans Amid Rise in Violence, Atlanta Mass Shooting
- Yahoo: These Virtual Mental Health Resources for Black Women Can Make All the Difference
- CNBC: One year later: How 15 American workers are coping with the coronavirus pandemic
- The Good Trade: Here’s How To Navigate The Health Care System When You Have Anxiety
- PureWow: 21 Mental Health Resources for BIPOC
- LA Times: How to find a therapist who is right for you
- Austin Monthly: Local Resources for Minority Mental Health
- Hestah: How Do We Move Away From “What is Wrong With You?”
- Bitch Media: Therapists of Color Unravel Power from Whiteness
- Glamour: 28 Low-Cost or Free Online Therapy Resources
- The Mighty: It’s OK Not to Be OK: A Digital Toolkit for Prioritizing Your Mental Health
- Cosmopolitan: These Virtual Mental Health Resources for Black Women Can Make All the Difference
- Healthy-ish: 7 Virtual Mental Health Resources Supporting Black People Right Now
- Self: 14 Organizations and People Working to Support BIPOC Mental Health During the Coronavirus Crisis
- MindBodyGreen: 10 Mental Health Organizations That Support People Of Color
- Well+Good: How to Start Virtual Therapy and Find a Therapist You Really Gel With
- Refinery 29: A List Of Mental Health Resources Available For People Of Color
- Shape: Accessible and Supportive Mental Health Resources for Black Womxn
- Pop Sugar: 25 Mental Health Resources Created For the Black Community You Should Know
- Inside Hook: 10 Virtual Mental-Health Resources That Cater to Black Communities
- Prevention: 9 Ways to Access Affordable Therapy Options Near You, According to Experts
In the Media on Mental Health and Relationship Therapy
- USA Today: People say vacations are a pressure cooker for relationships. Is that really true?
- Self: Dealing With Stressful Family Relationships During the Holidays
- GQ: 7 Ways to Play Offense Against the Winter Blues
- New York Times: How to Revisit Your First Date
- New York Times: How to Give People Advice They’ll Be Delighted to Take
- CNBC: 6 ways to manage burnout during a long job search
- CNBC: How to set yourself up for success when starting a new job remotely
- Fast Company: 7 ways to set effective boundaries during the holidays
- Your Tango: I Stayed In A Toxic Relationship Because Of Love (But It Was A Big Mistake)
- Fatherly: The Best Way to Maintain a Happy Marriage When You Have Kids
- Datezie: The Most Influential Dating Experts of 2019 #18
- Elite Daily: Here’s How To Tell Your Family About Your Relationship, Even If You’re Nervous
- Bustle: If You & Your Partner Do These 9 Little Things Unconsciously, You’re Truly Connected
- Bustle: 9 Signs Your Relationship Expectations May Be Too High
- Vice: We Asked Experts How to Let Go of Grudges
- Live About: How Marriage Therapists Can Tell if Your Therapy Will Help You or Not
- Romper: 7 Little Habits That Gradually Drive Your Partner Away
- Reader’s Digest: 25 Little Sex Mistakes You Don’t Realize You’re Making
- Wedding Wire: Is Your Partner Avoiding Wedding Planning? How to Deal
- Ladders: 10 things happy professionals do before 10 a.m.
- Brit + Co: We Asked an Expert Whether Romance Will Ruin a Friendship
- Elite Daily: When Is The Right Time To See A Therapist? Experts Weigh In On How To Know & Why You’ll Benefit
- She Said: Loving Someone Isn’t A Reason To Stay In A Dead End Relationship
- She Said: Why Not Having Sex Could Hurt Your Relationship
- Unstuck: How to jumpstart your self-reflection practice
- Martha Stewart Weddings: 3 Things You’re Bound to Fight About as Newlyweds
- The List: Healthy relationship habits most people think are toxic
- Greatist: 6 Signs You’re Making the Wrong Decision
- Guy Counseling: 10 Steps For Husbands To Heal Their Marriage
- The List: Signs you’re not ready to get married
- The Knot: 54 Date Ideas for Your Date Night
- Huffington Post: Are Your Bedtime Habits Messing With Your Relationship?
- Teen Vogue: 8 Things You Should Do When Your Friend Group Abandons You
- Woman’s Day: 30 Things Marriage Therapists Want You to Know
- About.com: How Marriage Therapists Can Tell if Your Therapy Will Help You or Not
I am still smiling – what an amazing exploration of gender and identity!!
We cannot thank you enough for your willingness to approach these topics, particularly in a way that was honest and did not diminish the content in order to make it more palatable for the cisheteronormative perspective.
Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health: Celebrating Gender Expansiveness & Creating Affirming Community Workshop
Listen In
PODCASTS
Collective Grief & Sacred Rage: on Palestinian Liberation
Cut Fruit Podcast
De-centering whiteness in therapy
Speaking of Racism
Here and Queer Pride Panel
Conjuring Up Courage
Educate, Advocate and Liberate
Change the Narrative
Inclusive Therapists, Decolonization, Internalized Biases, and Land-Back Movements
Conversations with a Wounded Healer
Ways to decolonize mental health
Mental Health Mosaics
Decolonizing Mental Health
Start Within with Coach Colette
Making Therapy More Inclusive
Conjuring Up Courage
This webinar was one of the best I have ever seen. Melody was well informed, trauma-focused, and genuine. I felt heard and comfortable the whole time.
On top of that, I learned so much about racial trauma and rupture – I plan to use information from the webinar in my personal and professional life.
Melody honored the experience that Asian communities have endured in this country historically and presently. But more importantly, they contextualized the impacts, the intersections, and the methods of providing comprehensive mental health services to those effected by a wide array of racial traumas.
Their presentation style was fluid. Their macro and micro level analysis of the Asian experience, and their grounding techniques, blew me away.