Melissa Stokes , AASW, AHPRA

Melissa Stokes brings 25 years of professional experience to her work as a psychologist and accredited mental health social worker, credentialed in Australia with AASW and AHPRA. She practices from Psychological Therapy Services in Payneham, Adelaide and also provides therapy online. Melissa has worked across a wide range of clinical settings - including domestic violence services, child, adolescent and adult community mental health, youth justice, rape and sexual assault services, hospitals, and both public and private practice - which has shaped a broad, practice-informed approach to care.

Her clinical toolkit includes many evidence-informed therapies such as cognitive behavioral approaches, dialectical behavior skills, acceptance and commitment strategies, and trauma-focused interventions. Melissa integrates cognitive-behavioural, trauma, humanistic person-centred and attachment perspectives to tailor treatment plans to each person’s strengths and needs. She uses psychoeducation and skills training to reduce distress and support improved wellbeing.

Melissa is inclusive of all genders, cultures and sexual identities and works collaboratively to create a supportive environment where people feel heard and validated. She is committed to mentoring the next generation of practitioners through supervision and remains engaged in continuing professional development and research, including work on assessment tools for first responders and a thesis on online mindfulness users. Outside of clinical work she enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga, comedy, time with her dogs and wandering in gardens.

Integrative Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Melissa draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking steps toward a more meaningful life - an approach often useful for anxiety, stress and motivation challenges. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to explore patterns in relationships and emotional bonds, offering a framework for addressing issues like abandonment, attachment difficulties and relationship stress.

She also employs client-centered principles, prioritising a respectful, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship that helps people feel heard and supported while they work through their concerns. Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process - Melissa collaborates with each person to identify methods that fit their goals, preferences and needs, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with a licensed professional can increase flexibility and accessibility by allowing sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit care into daily life, maintain continuity during busy periods, and access consistent support from different locations, while therapists adapt techniques to work effectively in each format.