Melissa Thompson , PACFA

Melissa Thompson is a counsellor with 14 years of professional experience in Australia. She supports people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and low self-esteem. She aims to make starting therapy less daunting by offering calm, straightforward care.

Melissa works in a warm, non-judgemental way. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. She encourages people to speak honestly about feelings and everyday challenges so they can try new approaches between sessions.

Her work covers a wide range of concerns, including addictions, sleeping problems, anger, career stress and relationship or intimacy-related issues. She also supports people facing adoption, abandonment and attachment issues, as well as those dealing with co-morbidity or substance-related problems.

Melissa draws on evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy. She uses these methods to help clients build coping skills, set boundaries and increase emotional awareness.

People looking for practical coaching around life changes may find her style helpful. She supports clients through grief, separation and forgiveness work, and helps LGBT people navigate identity and relationship questions. Melissa invites people to take small steps that add up to meaningful change.

Her practice is offered in English and delivered online through a variety of session formats. Prospective clients begin by completing a brief matching questionnaire and then arrange sessions that suit their schedule.

How Melissa’s approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts without being ruled by them, and commit to actions that match their values. It can help with anxiety, stress and motivation struggles. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to relationship patterns and early attachment experiences to improve current relationships and emotional regulation.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will talk about your needs and goals and suggest which methods might suit you best. You can try techniques in sessions and then adjust the plan as you learn what works for you.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation without travelling. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or you need a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging suit quick updates, notes between sessions or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life, while keeping the focus on steady progress.