Melissa Stokes, AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes offers support for common and complex life struggles. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD and the effects of trauma and abuse. She also supports those dealing with parenting strain, career worries, body image and eating or sleeping difficulties. Melissa is inclusive of all genders and sexual identities and lists Living with health challenges among her focus areas.

Melissa brings 25 years of professional experience in Australian mental health settings. Her background includes work in community mental health, youth justice, rape and sexual assault services, hospitals and both public and private practice. She has also contributed to research and projects at a Research and Education Unit for Gendered Violence and completed a thesis on online mindfulness users.

Her approach mixes practical skills training and psychoeducation with person-centred listening. She draws on cognitive-behavioural techniques, acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment perspectives and strategies from dialectical behaviour approaches to match what each person needs. Sessions aim to reduce distress and build everyday coping skills.

Melissa holds accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers, AASW, and is listed with AHPRA. She supervises students and other professionals and keeps up ongoing professional development. Outside work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and time in gardens.

People who choose to work with Melissa can expect collaborative sessions that focus on practical steps, clear goals and steady progress. She emphasises respect, warmth and straightforward language so people feel heard and able to try new ways of coping.

How Melissa Uses Therapy Approaches Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then commit to small actions that match what matters to them. It is useful for anxiety, depression and coping with long-term health challenges. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying different behaviours to change mood and function, which can help with sleep, mood and practical problem-solving. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape expectations and emotional responses, and can help people who struggle with trust, abandonment fears or relationship patterns.

Deciding which approach to use is a shared process. The therapist will work with the person to figure out goals, try methods and adjust based on what helps. Many people find a mix of approaches works best, and Melissa tailors sessions to fit individual needs and preferences.

The biography indicates Melissa practises online as well as from a clinic, but specific session formats are not listed here. Confirm the exact online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow quicker check-ins and make attendance easier during work or caregiving commitments. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt exercises, homework and skills training to an online setting so sessions stay practical and goal focused.