Melissa Stokes , AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes is a seasoned mental health clinician with 25 years of professional experience in Australia. She is a psychologist and an accredited mental health social worker, holding AASW membership and registration with AHPRA - AASW refers to the Australian Association of Social Workers and AHPRA is the national registration agency for health practitioners. Melissa has worked in a wide range of clinical environments, bringing broad experience to her practice.

Her clinical background includes roles in domestic violence services, child, adolescent and adult community mental health, youth justice, rape and sexual assault support, hospital settings, and both public and private practice. Across these settings she has been trained in and applied a variety of evidence-based therapies, and regularly uses psychoeducation and skills training to reduce distress and support wellbeing.

Melissa’s therapeutic approach is integrative and person-centred, combining cognitive-behavioural and trauma-informed perspectives with attachment and strengths-based work. She draws on modalities such as CBT, CPT, DBT, ACT, EFT, IPT, MI and EMDR where appropriate, and tailors treatment plans to each person’s needs and goals.

She is inclusive of all genders, cultures and sexual identities and works collaboratively with individuals facing concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting and relationship challenges, mood disorders including depression and bipolar, ADHD, career and self-esteem issues and other complex presentations. Melissa also addresses additional focus areas including attachment and abandonment, blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, dissociation and co-morbidity.

Committed to workforce development, Melissa supervises students and other professionals while maintaining an active interest in research and continuing professional development. Her research experience includes projects at the Research and Education Unit for Gendered Violence and a thesis exploring online mindfulness users and motivations. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga, comedy, time with her dogs and wandering in gardens.

Integrative therapeutic approaches for online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) invites clients to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and to clarify personal values so actions align with what matters most; it is often helpful for anxiety, chronic stress and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns in relationships that originate in early connections and helps people build more secure ways of relating - this can be especially useful for attachment issues, abandonment concerns and relationship difficulties. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s own experience, offering empathy, respect and nonjudgmental support so clients can find their own solutions and build self-esteem.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Melissa collaborates with each person to determine the best fit based on their needs, goals and preferences. Therapists will adapt methods and combine strategies as required to support progress in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful.

Online therapy with a licensed professional provides practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different schedules, energy levels and access needs. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access therapeutic support from home or work, and fit sessions into busy lives while preserving a focus on effective, evidence-informed treatment.