Melissa Stokes, AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes offers practical support for people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, mood concerns and life changes. She addresses everyday habits and unhelpful thinking that make daily life harder. Melissa writes plans with people that fit their routines and priorities. She is an AASW social worker and is listed with AHPRA with 25 years' experience.

Her approach is straightforward and collaborative. Sessions focus on what is troubling you now and on small, doable steps to change thoughts and habits. She draws on cognitive tools and acceptance strategies to reduce distress and improve coping. Melissa also uses attachment-based ideas to help with relationship patterns and sense of safety.

Melissa has worked in domestic violence services, child, adolescent and adult community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services, hospitals and both public and private practice. That background informs how she tailors sessions to individual needs and life circumstances. She also supervises students and other clinicians as part of mentoring the next generation.

She keeps learning through ongoing professional development and research. Past projects include developing assessment tools for first responders and a research thesis on online mindfulness learners. Outside work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and spending time with her dogs and friends.

People who choose Melissa often want a practical, person-centred way to change habits and manage thoughts that get in the way of daily life. If that sounds relevant, the next step is to follow the site's booking process to see if she is a good fit.

Approaches that support change when life gets busy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts without getting stuck in them and focus on values-based actions. It can be useful for anxiety, stress and motivation to change everyday habits. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical techniques to challenge unhelpful thinking and build new routines. That can help with anxiety, low mood, sleep and eating concerns. Attachment-Based Therapy examines how early relationship patterns shape current responses and helps people build different ways of relating and coping in close relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques in session and adapt methods to what helps you most. Decisions are collaborative and based on your goals, needs and preferences rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

Confirm the current online session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people use different tools like worksheets or skills coaching between sessions. Talk with the therapist about what will best fit your routine and what practical adjustments might help you get the most from sessions.