Dr. Melanie Inouye is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in neurodivergent adults and teens, including those with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental profiles who are also navigating co-occurring mental health conditions and/or chronic illness. Many of her clients are late-diagnosed and seeking tailored support for new self-understanding.
Her clinical expertise spans functional cognition, sensory processing, executive functioning, habit and routine formation, emotional regulation, and social participation. She translates this into evidence-based, practical toolkits combining cognitive compensatory techniques, environmental modifications, energy management, nervous system regulation, and sustainable lifestyle adjustments.
A central focus of Dr. Inouye’s practice is addressing neurodivergent burnout, perfectionism, and chronic exhaustion that can make daily life feel overwhelming and impact functioning. She is passionate about helping clients develop insight into their unique brain and nervous system, guiding them from validation to meaningful, lasting change.
Dr. Inouye's approach is warm, holistic, and strengths-based. She helps clients understand how their brain works, recognize and leverage their strengths, foster resilience, and build the confidence and skills needed for purposeful, authentic engagement in daily life.
Dr. Inouye earned her master's and clinical doctorate from the University of Southern California (USC). She gained experience in mental health during her Master’s at UCLA TIES at the Semel Institute, where she provided trauma-informed care to children and adolescents in the foster care system with diagnoses including autism, ADHD, PTSD, and anxiety. Dr. Inouye completed her doctoral residency on a clinical research track at the USC Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, where she also served as program manager for the USC SMART-VR Center. Her doctoral research focused on implementation barriers and knowledge translation strategies for applying virtual reality technology in clinical practice.
Education and Training:
Doctor of Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California - Pi Theta Epsilon Honor Society
Bachelor of Science in Sociology with Honors, Summa Cum Laude, University of Oregon
Relevant Professional Presentations:
Autistic Burnout in Adulthood: Occupational Impact & Recovery With Samantha Valasek, OTD, OTR/L — Occupational Therapy Association of California Annual Conference, November 2024
Autistic Burnout in Adulthood: Occupational Impact & Recovery With Kelcie Kadowaki, OTD, OTR/L and Newal Osman, OTD, OTR/L — American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, April 2026