Melanie is a Mental Health Accredited Social Worker who trained at University of New South Wales, with over 25 years of experience supporting adolescents and families through complex emotional and mental health challenges. She brings a calm, compassionate, and non-judgemental presence to her work, creating a space where young people feel safe, understood, and supported.
Melanie works across the lifespan, supporting adults with presentations such as anxiety, depression, and grief, while holding a strong focus on working with teenagers experiencing more complex mental health difficulties. Her work includes supporting young people experiencing suicidal ideation and self-harm, emotional-based school avoidance, social anxiety, personality-related difficulties, ADHD, autism, gender dysphoria, and the impacts of complex family trauma. She approaches this work with a thoughtful awareness of both the individual and relational contexts in which these experiences unfold.
Her therapeutic approach is informed by Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. As a trained DBT therapist, Melanie focuses on building practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. She works collaboratively with young people and their families to strengthen coping strategies, improve communication, and support meaningful, lasting change. Her work integrates evidence-based approaches within a compassionate, client-centred framework, with a strong emphasis on safety, resilience, and connection.
In addition to talk-based therapies, Melanie is also a Body-Based (Dance) Movement Therapist. She incorporates somatic approaches to support clients in processing and releasing stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions through the body. Her work is informed by contemporary trauma research, including principles outlined inThe Body Keeps the Score, recognising the importance of integrating mind, body, and brain in the healing process.
Melanie is passionate about empowering young people to reconnect with their strengths, rebuild confidence, and move towards a more hopeful and balanced future. She provides a collaborative therapeutic space where both individuals and families can feel supported in navigating challenges and fostering lasting change.