Dr. Melissa spends a lot of time asking questions and listening to your unique story...because that is where the answers can be found to most health concerns.  She brings a wide variety of tools to the visit - preventive medicine, integrative medicine, genomics and epigenetics, Ayurveda, osteopathic manipulation.  And while she will not promise to make everything better, she will work as hard as you do to help you achieve your ultimate health and wellness goals.  

Symptoms she frequently manages include anxiety, depression, thyroid imbalance, reproductive hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue and stress effects, gut health, and food allergies and sensitivities.  She is extremely knowledgeable, personally and professionally, about MTHFR and other genetic SNPs that cause these same and other symptoms.  

If you've been told that you're on your own, it's all in your head or that your symptoms are typical for women or for your age, Dr. Melissa can help you find the cause and tools to help you feel more like you.

Expect a very professional yet casual experience. The environment is calm, warm and unlike any other doctor’s office. And that’s the goal – no one wants the stress and anxiety that seems so automatic when going to a doctor’s office. (And any added stress or anxiety totally goes against what Dr. Melissa is trying to accomplish at Grace!) 

Your actual visit will be a relaxed and conversational version of your typical doctor visit – Dr. Melissa will listen to your story, ask lots of questions and work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your personal priorities and health goals. You will be asked to help make decisions and to approve the recommended treatment plan. We acknowledge that you are the one who has to do the work once your appointment is done; you should have confidence in the plan before you walk out the door. We want your success!  

There is rarely a reason to disrobe during visits to Grace, even for osteopathic manipulation.

It is important to understand that this is not simply a one-time meeting with a physician. At Grace, we want to see you succeed with your health goals and that takes time and commitment…and more than one visit.

Your first visit is scheduled for 120 minutes (2 hours) to spend reviewing your completed intake form, listening to your story and developing the first stage of your treatment plan. 

If any standard labs are ordered during your initial consultation, interpretation of those are included in the initial consultation fee. Interpretation of specialty tests like the DUTCH test, GIMap, Organic Acids Test or MycoTox require an additional visit to review and develop a plan due to the complexity of the test reports.  

Communication is a critical component of your treatment plan. Rarely do any of us thrive when completely on our own! You will have email access to Dr. Melissa for basic questions and support. If you have a question or concern bigger than what is appropriate for an email exchange, you will be asked to schedule an appointment, either in-person or virtual, to discuss.

You will also be registered in Dr. Melissa's Fullscript program, an online store where she can send you specific supplement recommendations and you can order medical-grade supplements to your home.  Every Grace patient receives an additional 15% off all supplements on Fullscript or in the studio (with minimal exceptions).

Expect to schedule a follow-up consultation for approximately 3 – 8 weeks later, depending upon your specific situation, goals and treatment plan. 

Curiosity!  Health can be really hard and curiosity increases success in making decisions which will serve you the best.  Remember, Dr. Melissa is your guide for the journey...but you are the one who has to do the work.

Otherwise, please bring copies of all labs or imaging studies completed by other providers within the previous 12 months or since your last visit with Dr. Melissa.  Bring all medications and supplements to every visit.   

 And if you have done genetic testing through 23andMe or Ancestry.com, you already have information about your genetic SNPs, like MTHFR or COMT, so let Dr. Melissa know about this resource. 

Many functional and integrative practices use packages or memberships.  Dr. Melissa is different in this respect - she charges each visit separately and uses an hourly rate which she prorates by the quarter hour, based on how much time you actually spend with her.  You literally pay for the services you use!

Full payment is expected at the time of the appointment and can be made using credit card, check, cash and/or HSA or FSA accounts.

We accept no insurances.  Dr. Melissa is not credentialed with any insurance company, including Medicare.  She made this decision to provide the best possible care for you, based on your personal health goals and resources, instead of being limited by insurance companies.  Even if she were in contract with insurance companies, most of them would not pay her for her services.  She will, upon request, provide a superbill for you to submit to insurance for reimbursement.  

For any labs or imaging studies ordered by Dr. Melissa, she will work with you and the lab to get get maximum coverage by insurance, including Medicare.  

You have the option of being seen in-person at the Easley studio or, if you prefer, a telehealth/virtual visit can be scheduled for those living in South Carolina.  

Dr. Melissa is currently seeking licensure in North Carolina and will be able to offer the same option to North Carolina residents soon.  

Another option is to have Dr. Melissa as your personal Wellness and Health Coach.  Doesn't matter where you live!  The relationship will be a little different...but the results can still be AMAZING!  Questions?  Send Dr. Melissa a message or check out her coaching site.

Or check out the NEW five-week online program, Food Sensitivity Code.  It will put you back in control of how you feel, what you eat and how you communicate with your healthcare provider!  

Dr. Melissa is not a primary care physician or a pediatrician.  She is a consultant physician specializing in preventive and integrative medicine.  She makes an excellent addition to your current healthcare team and will happily communicate with your family doctor, with your permission, so your entire healthcare team is aware of your plan for health.  

Dr. Melissa is a licensed physician and can write prescriptions for medications as part of your treatment plan.  She does not write any prescriptions for narcotic pain medications.  

Yup, we still use fax!  The fax number is 864-474-4005.

Need to send something by snail mail?  Please do not send to the studio's physical address.  Instead, send to: Grace Integrative Medicine, 1027 Pendleton St, Suite B322, Easley SC 29642.