Melissa Stokes , AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes brings 25 years of clinical experience to her work supporting people through mental health and life transitions. She works from Psychological Therapy Services in Payneham, Adelaide and also offers therapy online, combining a warm, collaborative style with an integrative approach that is tailored to each person’s needs.

Melissa is a psychologist and an accredited mental health social worker and holds AASW and AHPRA credentials - AASW indicating her affiliation with the Australian Association of Social Workers and AHPRA indicating registration with Australia’s health practitioner regulator. Over a long career she has practised across domestic violence services, child, adolescent and adult community mental health, youth justice, sexual assault services, hospitals, and both public and private practice settings.

She draws on a wide range of evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioural methods and trauma-focused techniques, as well as ACT, DBT and EMDR when appropriate, alongside psychoeducation and skills training to reduce distress and strengthen wellbeing. Melissa values inclusivity and works respectfully with people of all genders, cultures and sexual identities, offering collaborative, compassionate care for issues such as anxiety, trauma, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, mood disorders, ADHD, parenting and relationship challenges.

Melissa also supervises students and other professionals, contributes to research and ongoing professional development, and brings personal interests in hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga, comedy, time with her dogs and wandering in gardens into a balanced approach to life and work.

Integrative therapeutic approaches for online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being driven by them, and supports committed action toward personal values - it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and coping with life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns formed in relationships, exploring how early bonds influence current connections and emotional responses, which can help with issues such as abandonment, attachment concerns and relationship difficulties. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the person’s own experience, offering a non-judgmental, empathic space that encourages self-exploration and growth and can be especially helpful for building self-esteem, managing grief, and navigating transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process - Melissa will work with each person to identify which methods fit best with their needs, goals and preferences, and will adapt techniques over time as therapy progresses. The aim is to tailor care so it feels relevant and practical.

Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility to access support from home or work and can make scheduling easier around daily commitments. These options also allow ongoing, consistent contact with licensed professionals and therapists, helping people maintain momentum in therapy while fitting treatment into busy lives.