Melea Stephens LPC, MMFT

Licensed Therapist and Sexual Exploitation Prevention Leader

Melea Stephens, LPC, MMFT, is a dedicated marriage and family therapist with over 25 years of experience in private practice. In addition to her clinical work, she is a passionate activist against sexual exploitation in her home state of Alabama.

As a board member of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the founder of a local nonprofit, she is committed to protecting the current generation of children from the dangers of sexual exploitation through prevention, education, and legislative initiatives. After witnessing the profound negative effects of hardcore pornography on both children and adults in her care, Melea felt compelled to raise awareness about the unrecognized health and societal impacts of this illegal material.

Since 2012, Melea has organized numerous city and statewide events, as well as public awareness campaigns. She frequently collaborates with anti-trafficking leaders to promote education and support the needs of survivors of sexual exploitation. Through partnerships with local leaders and with the support of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, she played a pivotal role in launching the nation’s first emergency treatment program for pediatric survivors of sex trafficking at UAB Hospital. Melea is also a sought-after speaker on topics such as the public health crisis of pornography and fostering sexual intimacy in marriage. She was instrumental in the 2020 passage of the Alabama Resolution to Declare Pornography a Public Health Crisis and the 2025 enactment of the Alabama Children’s Device Protection Bill.

Originally hailing from the Birmingham area, Melea received her B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from Samford University before obtaining her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University in Texas. Melea envisions a future where the scourge of sexual exploitation is entirely eradicated, driven by a society that has become intolerant of its profound harms and injustices. She believes that through ongoing awareness, education, and advocacy that day is within reach.