Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts with a Sociology Major and a Psychology Minor and a Masters of Counselling. She has been a PACFA registered Counsellor for seven years, working in alternative education schools, Catholic Schools and with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). She has over 15 years experience working with children and adolescents with a trauma background, first as a Youth Working in Out of Home Care and then in her roles as a Counsellor. She has experience working with teens and adults in such areas as interpersonal stressors, complicated and diverse family systems, academic stress, providing parenting support/groups, school disengagement, anxiety and depression, childhood trauma, and complex mental health presentations.
Melissa is passionate about helping clients understand how their brains work in a clear and useful way. Using neuroscience to provide psychoeducation Melissa provides practical and useful strategies to help people identify, adapt to and overcome their current challenges. Melissa is guided by a robust curiosity of the individual and offers clear and direct help with her clients and their families reach their goals. Melissa has a client centred approach and uses a variety of modalities and frameworks including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, trauma informed and neurodiversity affirming approaches.
