Melissa Stokes, AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes is an AASW accredited social worker and appears on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) register with 25 years of professional experience. She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, bipolar, ADHD and other concerns young adults commonly face, including life transitions, career questions and relationship stress. She is also experienced supporting people who identify as LGBT and those affected by trauma and abuse.

Melissa uses a mix of approaches rather than a single method. She draws on cognitive-behavioural strategies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and attachment-based thinking to help people notice what matters to them and build practical skills. She also uses client-centred techniques to keep conversation clear and collaborative.

Her background includes work in domestic violence services, youth justice, sexual assault support, hospitals and community mental health. That range means she is familiar with crisis settings and longer-term care, and with combining skills training and psychoeducation with therapy conversations.

Melissa supervises students and other clinicians as part of her commitment to sharing practice knowledge. She has contributed to research on gendered violence and completed a thesis on online mindfulness learners and motivation, which informs how she thinks about engagement and skill practice.

Outside work she likes hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga and time with her dogs. She brings practical experience and a clear, person-focused approach to meetings with people navigating early adult life changes.

How her approaches translate to online sessions