Welcome.
Melissa is a Clinical and Health Psychologist, and Hypnotherapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Psychology Board) in independent part-time private practice who consults clients with a wide range of presenting issues including anxiety and depression, and a range of health issues such as coping with cancer and infertility difficulties including creating families through surrogacy.
At present, due to working reduced hours, Melissa is not taking any new Mental Health Care Plan Referrals. She is only consulting with past or existing clients (who have Mental Health Care Plans or are attending as private clients) or anyone who is experiencing issues related to reproductive health including difficulties conceiving, pregnancy loss, donor conception, and surrogacy, regardless of their form of referral.
Melissa has a Masters Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) and a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis. She is a member of the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Health Psychologists, the Australian and South Australian Societies of Hypnosis, and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association and is a Psychology Board of Australia Board Endorsed Supervisor.
This website provides information regarding Melissa’s qualifications and experience, her views about therapy, the services she offers and fees. It also answers some of the common questions people have when visiting a psychologist for the first time, including about hypnosis. Generally the best way to determine whether a psychologist can assist you is to attend an initial appointment.
Melissa's Views about Therapy
It is always useful when considering entering into a therapeutic relationship to have an understanding of the therapist's views about therapy and each person's role in the process.
What is Therapy?
Melissa views therapy as a collaborative process between her and her client(s). She is trained in cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, family and systemic therapy, motivational interviewing, and hypnosis, and will use whichever therapeutic approaches are most relevant for each client's individual needs.
What is the role of the therapist?
Melissa views the role of the therapist not as one of being the all knowledgable "expert" who will "fix" the client with little effort on the client's behalf. Rather, Melissa works with her client(s) to identify their goals and the skills and resources they will need to achieve them. She also assists clients to identify the strengths, resources and skills they already possess and teaches them how to use these assets to address their current concerns, or teaches clients the skills they require in a step-by-step sequence if the skills are under-developed or lacking.
What is the role of the client?
Melissa views the role of the client to be an active participant in the therapy process; they must be willing to do the work to help themselves. If the client is unwilling to actively contribute to the process they are unlikely to achieve the results they desire.
Expectations about homework
Melissa's clients will regularly be given homework assignments to carry out in between therapy sessions. This is to encourage clients to test the accuracy of their thoughts and perceptions, to try new behaviours, and to integrate their new knowledge and skills into real life contexts. It is expected that clients WILL undertake the homework tasks that are set as research shows that clients who do homework in therapy improve faster, achieve a better quality of improvemnt and are less likely to relapse. Part of agreeing to undertake therapy with Melissa is agreeing to undertake these tasks in order to improve your life.
This Page Updated: April 21st 2019
Melissa is a Clinical and Health Psychologist, and Hypnotherapist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Psychology Board) in independent part-time private practice who consults clients with a wide range of presenting issues including anxiety and depression, and a range of health issues such as coping with cancer and infertility difficulties including creating families through surrogacy.
At present, due to working reduced hours, Melissa is not taking any new Mental Health Care Plan Referrals. She is only consulting with past or existing clients (who have Mental Health Care Plans or are attending as private clients) or anyone who is experiencing issues related to reproductive health including difficulties conceiving, pregnancy loss, donor conception, and surrogacy, regardless of their form of referral.
Melissa has a Masters Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, a Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) and a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis. She is a member of the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Health Psychologists, the Australian and South Australian Societies of Hypnosis, and the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association and is a Psychology Board of Australia Board Endorsed Supervisor.
This website provides information regarding Melissa’s qualifications and experience, her views about therapy, the services she offers and fees. It also answers some of the common questions people have when visiting a psychologist for the first time, including about hypnosis. Generally the best way to determine whether a psychologist can assist you is to attend an initial appointment.
Melissa's Views about Therapy
It is always useful when considering entering into a therapeutic relationship to have an understanding of the therapist's views about therapy and each person's role in the process.
What is Therapy?
Melissa views therapy as a collaborative process between her and her client(s). She is trained in cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, family and systemic therapy, motivational interviewing, and hypnosis, and will use whichever therapeutic approaches are most relevant for each client's individual needs.
What is the role of the therapist?
Melissa views the role of the therapist not as one of being the all knowledgable "expert" who will "fix" the client with little effort on the client's behalf. Rather, Melissa works with her client(s) to identify their goals and the skills and resources they will need to achieve them. She also assists clients to identify the strengths, resources and skills they already possess and teaches them how to use these assets to address their current concerns, or teaches clients the skills they require in a step-by-step sequence if the skills are under-developed or lacking.
What is the role of the client?
Melissa views the role of the client to be an active participant in the therapy process; they must be willing to do the work to help themselves. If the client is unwilling to actively contribute to the process they are unlikely to achieve the results they desire.
Expectations about homework
Melissa's clients will regularly be given homework assignments to carry out in between therapy sessions. This is to encourage clients to test the accuracy of their thoughts and perceptions, to try new behaviours, and to integrate their new knowledge and skills into real life contexts. It is expected that clients WILL undertake the homework tasks that are set as research shows that clients who do homework in therapy improve faster, achieve a better quality of improvemnt and are less likely to relapse. Part of agreeing to undertake therapy with Melissa is agreeing to undertake these tasks in order to improve your life.
This Page Updated: April 21st 2019
