26 April 25 • 2019
jn

W

hen Dr. Melanie Schwartz 
decided to open her own prac-
tice, she wanted to create a 
holistic approach to mental health treat-
ment that incorporated health and well-
ness, including yoga. 
Three years later, Viewpoint 
Psychology and Wellness, with offices 
in Commerce Township and now West 
Bloomfield, offers just that with a staff 
of experienced licensed psychologists, 
limited license psychologists, licensed 
professional counselors, licensed 
master social workers and three 
psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Viewpoint provides psychological 
and psychiatric services, such as 
therapy and counseling, psychological 
assessment, diagnosis and testing 
and medication management — all 
within a health and wellness-based 
model, either in person or through 
Viewpoint’s professional teletherapy 
services.
“We’ve accomplished what we set 
out to do,” Schwartz said, “which 
was to have an impact on the growing 

mental health issues of our patients.”
The West Bloomfield office opened 
in March. The two offices have 
more than 20 therapists on staff to 
treat everything from anxiety and 
depression, substance abuse, grief 
and loss, eating disorders, ADHD 
and learning disorders, mood 
disorders, couples counseling and 
family therapy. “We’re full service,” 
Schwartz said. “We accept many 
major insurances, and our patients 
don’t have to go anywhere else for 
medication management since we have 
a prescriber on staff.”
Schwartz, 41, grew up in Farmington 
Hills attending Adat Shalom 
Synagogue. She went to Michigan 
State University for undergraduate 
work and then to the Illinois School 
of Professional Psychology in Chicago 
where she received her doctorate in 
psychology and a master’s degree 
in clinical psychology. She spent 
the following 18 years working and 
training in a variety of clinical settings. 
In 2007, she returned to Michigan from 

Chicago to be closer to family.
Schwartz specializes in 
adolescents, adults, families and 
couples. “I work with a lot of kids 
with high anxiety,” she said.
Part of that anxiety is the result 
of the world we live in. “It’s not 
that it’s more dangerous,” she 
said. “It’s that we know more 
about the danger. You can’t turn 
on your computer or the TV or 
without reading about something 
devastating. That in and of itself is 
going to increase anxiety.”
She also lays the blame on 
society’s quest for never-ending 
achievement. “People believe that 
in order to be successful, you have 
to do and be everything. That’s 
the message we’re sending kids. 
You have to be the best. You have 
to get the grades. You have to get 
into the best college. That’s the 
wrong message. As a result, it’s 
creating increased depression and 
anxiety because those goals are 
unattainable.” 
Schwartz likes to take a holistic 
approach to helping patients. 
“When people are out of balance, 
it creates anxiety and depression. I 
ask patients to think about exercise, 
nutrition and getting enough sleep, 
and I help them integrate that into 
their already over-scheduled lives.” 
Schwartz is married with two 
boys, ages 5 and 7, and attends 
Temple Israel, where her youngest 
son is in preschool. Her older son 
attends Hillel Day School, where 
she and her husband are involved 
in activities. 
“Judaism has taught me to be 
very open minded and accepting 
of everybody and has helped me 
gain an understanding of what 
other people are experiencing,” 
she said. “Everybody’s dealing 
with something, and my job is to 
help them understand that and 
 
help them work through it while 
being open and understanding,” 
she said. 

Holistic Mental Health

Viewpoint Psychology and Wellness now open in West Bloomfield.

ABOVE: Dr. Melanie Schwartz

— ADVERTORIAL —

Viewpoint Psychology 
and Wellness

2075 E. West Maple 
Suite B-208
Commerce Township, MI 48390

2071 E. West Maple
Suite E-504

Commerce, MI 48390

7035 Orchard Lake Road
Suite 800

West Bloomfield, MI 48322

(248) 669-9500
viewpointpw.com

PHOTO (Credit: jerry Zolynsky)