Melissa Thompson, PACFA

Melissa Thompson is a PACFA counsellor with 14 years of professional experience in Australia. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem and motivation. Melissa aims to make the first step feel doable and to offer steady support as people work toward change.

She creates a calm, open space where clients can name difficult thoughts and feelings without facing judgment. Sessions are straightforward and grounded. Melissa listens, asks clear questions, and helps people spot patterns that keep them stuck.

Her approach blends practical skills with an emphasis on relationships and values. That means learning coping tools, exploring how past attachments shape today's choices, and clarifying what matters most. People often leave sessions with simple steps they can try between meetings.

Melissa also works with issues like addictions, intimacy concerns, sleep problems, anger, career stress and ADHD. She pays attention to how attachment, abandonment and family history affect current behaviour and relationships. Work may involve building emotional regulation skills, improving communication, or addressing co-morbidity that complicates recovery.

Overall, her style is warm and direct. She supports people who want useful strategies and honest conversation. If someone is ready to try therapy, Melissa helps set goals and plan the next practical steps.

Approaches that translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It often suits people wrestling with low motivation, life changes or a sense of emptiness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviours, which can help with anxiety, depression, sleep and anger. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current reactions and closeness, and it can help with intimacy issues, abandonment concerns and relationship patterns.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, life circumstances and what feels most useful. Together they will try techniques and adjust the plan as needed, aiming for approaches that fit day-to-day life.

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work or family demands, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when that suits a busy day. It also lets people practise skills in their everyday setting and bring real situations into conversations.