About Me

Dr. Melanie Inouye is a licensed mental health occupational therapist with a specialized clinical focus in neurodivergent burnout, currently practicing at Spectrum Psych LA within an interdisciplinary outpatient mental health setting. Her work addresses the origins of neurodivergent burnout, its impact on daily functioning, and the development of effective, individualized approaches to symptom management that are sustainable and grounded in each client's unique strengths and needs.

Her clinical practice serves neurodivergent adults, including those with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental profiles, many of whom are navigating co-occurring mental health and chronic health conditions. Many of her clients are late-diagnosed, navigating new self-understanding alongside years of unrecognized challenges and a nervous system that has been quietly running on empty.

Dr. Inouye understands the cognitive, sensory, emotional, and functional domains most impacted by neurodivergent burnout, applying an occupational therapy lens to its assessment and treatment. She translates this into practical, clinically informed self-management toolkits tailored to each individual. Her work is driven by a commitment to helping clients develop insight into their own brain and nervous system, guiding them from validation toward meaningful, lasting change.

Dr. Inouye completed her master's and clinical doctorate at the University of Southern California. During her master's training, she worked at UCLA TIES at the Semel Institute, providing trauma-informed care to children and adolescents in the foster care system across a range of diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, PTSD, and anxiety.

She completed her doctoral residency on a clinical research track at the USC Neural Plasticity and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory.

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