Why I do what I do
Because God isn’t done with your story.
My Approach
Listen with Grace
See with Faith
Guide with Hope
Get to Know Me
I’m the founder of Hope Releasers and a certified Invitation to Change coach. This work is deeply personal to me. I’ve experienced both the heartbreak and the hope of loving someone through addiction, and I know what it’s like to feel lost.
Today, my husband and I are happily married. I want to honor him here, because his story takes courage. He surrendered his life to God and did the hard, humbling work of getting clean. I did my own work too, because healing isn’t something one person does while the other waits on the sidelines.
Our story is still being written. But I’ve learned that my peace doesn’t rest on where he is on the road. It rests on God who has carried us both, and I still live what I teach, in my own home, one day at a time.
Aloha,
I’m Melanie Ota.
The Burden Behind Hope Releasers
Along the way, I watched women who loved someone in addiction hear the same message from the world: walk away, practice tough love, protect yourself and move on. Much of it came from people who meant well. But it left out the most important part of the story, which is God.
God placed a burden on my heart. It started as sorrow for families everywhere, in every nation, being torn apart by addiction. Then it became a vision. Like Nehemiah, who wept over the broken walls of Jerusalem and then rose up to rebuild them, I sensed God calling me to help rebuild what addiction has torn down: lives, marriages and families.
So I created Hope Releasers, with God and from His heart, to be the place I needed back then. Here you’ll find practical tools, grounded in Biblical wisdom and the heart of a God who heals, restores and reconciles. It’s a blend of a good plan and a good, good Father. I want every woman to know that nothing is impossible with God. God’s Word is her weapon and her counsel, and His promises are the place she can always return to. The Holy Spirit is with her, not only to comfort her but to give her the power and boldness to walk this road with courage.
It’s also why I chose the name. Women who walk this road with us become hope releasers, carrying hope into their homes, families and every place God sends them.
Because our God is the God of hope, no home is too broken and no story is too far gone.
Why People Trust Me
Blending Heart & Expertise
Lived Experience
My own journey walking with a loved one struggling with addiction taught me what works, what doesn’t, and how to hold onto hope along the way.
Faith Foundation
My guidance is rooted in biblical truth and prayer, helping you stay anchored in God’s promises and hope.
Tools & Training
Certified in the Invitation to Change approach, I offer practical, compassionate strategies to help you support your loved one wisely.
Always Growing
I’m a lifelong learner. I stay rooted in daily Bible study and keep refining my coaching through the women I walk with so I can serve you with wisdom and care.
From the Women I’ve Walked With
“Mel took her time to explain and teach in a way that I felt the Holy Spirit.”
A. in Nevada (Mother)
“I loved Mel’s style. She was such a beautiful facilitator. She has a sweet spirit and a soothing voice that immediately makes you feel comfortable and at ease. She is patient, compassionate, loving, and understanding, and she creates a safe space where you feel heard, valued, and never judged. Her kindness and genuine care shine through in everything she does. You can truly see and feel her love for the Lord, and she leads with a heart that reflects His grace, love, and compassion. I am grateful for her guidance and the positive impact she has made.”
D. in Hawaii (Wife)
“She was always very positive, she knew the moments when prayer was needed, and she presented the information very clearly in a way that I could understand and relate to.”
S. in Nevada (Mother)
“Kind, gentle, thoughtful, understanding, willing to share her own story, faith-filled, a prayer warrior.”
R. in Missouri (Wife)
FAQs
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Hope Releasers is a faith-based community and resource hub for women who love someone struggling with addiction. Through coaching, Christ-centered content, and community, I help you find clarity, healing, and hope, without losing yourself in the process. We’re not just here to hold onto hope. We’re here to release it into our homes, our relationships, and the world around us.
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Invitation to Change is an approach for families created by CMC: Foundation for Change. It brings together three well-researched methods: CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It’s rooted in science and kindness, and it helps you understand why your loved one keeps choosing what’s hurting them, talk in ways that open doors instead of starting fights, and take care of yourself along the way.
I’m a certified ITC coach, and in my coaching I pair these tools with Scripture and prayer. You can learn more about ITC at cmcffc.org.
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No, I’m not a licensed therapist. I’m a certified coach trained in the Invitation to Change (ITC) approach, a compassionate, evidence-based method for supporting someone with addiction. I pair this with biblical wisdom and personal experience to guide women through their own healing while helping them learn better ways to support their loved one’s journey.
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Therapy often focuses on diagnosis and clinical treatment. Hope Releasers is a faith-based coaching and support experience that offers practical tools, biblical encouragement, and community, not mental health counseling. While many women find healing and strength here, I’m always happy to refer you to a licensed therapist if your situation calls for additional professional support. You don’t have to figure it all out alone, but you do deserve the right kind of care.
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I’ve been there: exhausted, heartbroken, and wondering if things would ever change. Hope Releasers is here to help you heal, but also to equip you with new tools and strategies that can make a real difference in your loved one’s life too. You’ll learn how to create connection, reduce conflict, and lovingly influence change, all while finding peace and purpose in your own heart again.
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Your safety, and the safety of those you love, always comes first. Restoration never asks you to stay in harm’s way. If you’re in danger, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233).
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Everything I share is rooted in faith and the hope found in Jesus. He’s at the center of it all. But even if you’re still exploring faith or unsure where you stand, you’re welcome here. This is a space for women who want to grow, heal, and walk toward something greater, wherever they’re starting from.
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You’re still welcome here. Hope Releasers is about creating space for God to work, even when we’re full of questions. You don’t need perfect faith, just a willingness to take the next step.
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Absolutely. If you’re not sure where to begin, feel free to reach out through my contact page. I’d love to hear your story and help you find the right next step.
What Brings Me Joy
My Favorite Scripture
John 15:9 (NIV): “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
My Creative Outlets
Calligraphy and Watercolor
Best Part of My Day
Morning worship, prayer time and when the grandbabies visit
Dream Vacation Spot
Anywhere on a Hawaiian beach
Here When You Are Ready
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
If you’re ready to move forward or have questions about working together, I’m here to help you take the next step with clarity and hope.