Melissa Bloodworth is a therapist, mother, and lifelong believer in the power of stories. The idea for "The Monsters Inside" Me grew from conversations with her children about feelingsconversations that often happened in the car, at bedtime, and in the middle of everyday life.Drawing from her work supporting children and families, Melissa created the Emotion Monsters to help children understand that every feeling has something important to say. Her 2020 TEDxChattanooga talk explored many of these same themes: connection, emotional safety, and the stories we carry.Melissa lives in Tennessee with her family, where she continues to write, learn, and practice speaking gently to her own monsters.