Biltmore Psychology & Counseling (BPC) founder Dr. Melissa Estavillo, PsyD was interviewed by Voyage Phoenix in June 2026 about her experiences as a clinician and building a psychology practice.

Dr. Estavillo shares some fantastic insights into her career and personal journey:

“Early in my career, I viewed growth as a way to become more skilled, successful, and ultimately happier. I thought that if I learned enough, worked hard enough, and developed enough expertise, I could avoid many of life’s struggles.

Over time, life taught me something different. Now I see growth less as a path to avoiding hardship and more as a way of increasing my capacity to face it. The purpose of growth is not to eliminate pain, uncertainty, loss, or disappointment. It is to develop the resilience and courage to remain grounded when those experiences inevitably arrive.

What matters to me now is continuing to grow in my ability to face difficult things rather than avoid them. I have found that peace comes less from controlling life’s challenges and more from knowing I can endure them. That shift in perspective has influenced not only how I live my own life, but also how I approach my work with others.”