Melissa Stokes, AASW, AHPRA
Compassionate support for midlife transitions
Continue with Melissa
Opens BetterHelp in a new tab, where you can review online therapy options.
- Person-centred approach
- Evidence-informed methods
- Inclusive practice
About Melissa
Melissa Stokes welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief or big life changes. She helps with mood disorders such as depression and bipolar, attention difficulties like ADHD, and challenges around self-esteem, sleep, eating and career decisions. Melissa also supports those affected by trauma, abandonment and attachment issues, and people from LGBT communities seeking understanding and practical coping strategies.
Melissa has 25 years of work in clinical settings across Australia. She has been involved in community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services, hospitals and both public and private practice. Her background includes roles that focused on domestic violence, child and adolescent work, and adult mental health services.
Her approach is collaborative and person-centred. Sessions focus on practical skills, psychoeducation and exploring values and goals. She blends cognitive approaches with acceptance-based and attachment perspectives to tailor support to each person’s needs.
Melissa holds AASW and AHPRA credentials and supervises students and other professionals as they develop their practice. She keeps up professional development and has been involved in research on assessment tools and online mindfulness learning.
Outside of work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and time in gardens with her dogs. She describes her style as warm and empathetic, aiming to make each session feel like a calm space to talk and plan next steps.
Melissa has 25 years of work in clinical settings across Australia. She has been involved in community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services, hospitals and both public and private practice. Her background includes roles that focused on domestic violence, child and adolescent work, and adult mental health services.
Her approach is collaborative and person-centred. Sessions focus on practical skills, psychoeducation and exploring values and goals. She blends cognitive approaches with acceptance-based and attachment perspectives to tailor support to each person’s needs.
Melissa holds AASW and AHPRA credentials and supervises students and other professionals as they develop their practice. She keeps up professional development and has been involved in research on assessment tools and online mindfulness learning.
Outside of work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and time in gardens with her dogs. She describes her style as warm and empathetic, aiming to make each session feel like a calm space to talk and plan next steps.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
GriefEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
Australia, Australia
Languages
English
How Melissa’s approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps towards those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts or feelings. It can help with anxiety, low mood and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and practicing new skills to change mood and daily functioning. It is often used for anxiety, depression and sleep or eating difficulties. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns formed in relationships and helps people build healthier ways of connecting and managing emotional triggers.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melissa will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences and suggest approaches that fit. That choice is collaborative and can change as therapy progresses to suit what is most helpful.
The biography indicates she offers online work as well as clinic practice, but it does not list specific session formats here. Please confirm which formats are available before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, avoid travel time, or choose a quieter time for a shorter check-in. They also allow continued contact when someone is relocating or managing care or work commitments.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Melissa commonly help with?
Melissa supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and ADHD, as well as grief, trauma, body image and life transitions.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and person-centred, using practical skills, values work and talking through difficult emotions to help people make changes.
What sort of professional background does she have?
She has 25 years of clinical experience across community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services, hospitals and private practice.
Which credentials and region are listed for this therapist?
Melissa lists AASW and AHPRA and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported and can international clients book?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography mentions online work alongside clinic practice. Confirm current session options with the service before booking.
How are fees and payment handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Melissa?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule according to the therapist's availability.