Melissa Stokes , AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or major life changes. She supports those coping with trauma, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, ADHD and bipolar challenges. Melissa also works with people navigating identity and LGBT concerns, parenting pressures, career strain and self-esteem problems.

Melissa uses a practical, conversational style. Sessions focus on clear skills, small experiments and honest conversation. She listens first, then helps people try approaches that suit their life and goals. The aim is to reduce distress and help people manage day-to-day challenges.

With 25 years of professional experience Melissa holds AASW and AHPRA credentials in Australia. Her background includes work in domestic violence services, child, adolescent and adult community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services and both public and private healthcare settings. This variety shapes a grounded, realistic approach to common problems.

Her practice draws on cognitive behavioural ideas, acceptance and commitment thinking, attachment-informed work and person-centred methods. Melissa blends skills training, psychoeducation and emotionally focused techniques so therapy matches each person’s needs. She prefers collaborative planning and practical strategies people can use between sessions.

Melissa also supervises students and other professionals and maintains ongoing professional development. Outside work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and time with her dogs.

How Melissa’s approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression and coping with life changes by teaching practical ways to act despite difficult feelings. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and uses structured exercises to reduce symptoms like anxiety, low mood and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns and how early bonds affect current connections and emotional responses, which can help with attachment issues, abandonment fears and relationship stress.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Melissa works with each person to identify goals and preferences, then offers methods that fit their situation. She reviews how strategies are working and adjusts plans based on what the person finds helpful.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is good for richer interaction and visual cues, phone works well if bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can suit short check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options let people fit sessions around work, family and daily life while still accessing an appropriately qualified therapist.