Melissa Stokes
Compassionate, experienced psychological care
Start with Melissa StokesLicensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
About
Taking the first step to reach out takes courage, and Melissa Stokes offers steady support for people navigating mental health and life challenges. She is credentialed in Australia and brings 25 years of professional experience to her work as a psychologist and an accredited mental health social worker, practising from Psychological Therapy Services in Payneham, Adelaide, and providing therapy online.
Melissa’s clinical background spans a wide range of 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. Across these roles she has trained in and uses a range of evidence-based therapies, such as CBT, CPT, DBT, ACT, EFT, IPT, MI and EMDR, together with psychoeducation and skills training to reduce distress and enhance wellbeing.
She is inclusive of all genders, cultures and sexual identities, and delivers collaborative, compassionate, evidence-based therapy for people facing diverse challenges. Her therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing on cognitive-behavioural, trauma-informed, humanistic person-centred, attachment and strengths-based perspectives to tailor treatment to each person’s needs and resources.
In practice Melissa works with clients to create a supportive space where they can explore thoughts and emotions and feel heard, validated and empowered. Her warm demeanour, empathetic manner and commitment to clients' wellbeing are central to how she relates to people in therapy.
Melissa also contributes to workforce development by supervising students and other professionals, offering mentoring and practical support as they build their careers in mental health. She maintains an ongoing commitment to professional development and research, having worked at the Research and Education Unit for Gendered Violence on projects to develop assessment tools for first responders, and completed a research thesis examining online mindfulness users' characteristics and motivation to learn at the intersection of mental health challenges and positive psychology.
Outside of her professional life Melissa enjoys hiking, foraging, music, board games, cooking, yoga, comedy, spending time with her dogs, being in nature and getting lost in gardens.
- Location:
- Australia, Australia
- Years Experience:
- 25
- Gender:
- Female
- Languages Spoken:
- English
- Therapist of Color:
- No
- Communication Options:
- Phone • Video • Live Chat • Messaging
Specialties
Primary area of focus:Coaching, Coping with life changes, LGBT, Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse
Other areas of experience: Abandonment, ADHD, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Bipolar, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Career, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Compulsion, Control issues, Dependent personality, Depression, Disaster relief therapy, Dissociation, Divorce, Domestic violence, Eating, Family of origin issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gambling, Gender dysphoria, Grief, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Narcissism, Non-monogamous relationships, Obsession, OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Parenting, Personality disorders, Phobias, Polyamory, Porn, Post-traumatic stress, Postpartum depression, Pregnancy, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self esteem, Self-harm, Self-love, Separation, Sexual trauma, Sexuality, Sleeping, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Trichotillomania, Veterans, Women’s issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Therapeutic approach:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
Credentials & Verification
- Credentials:
- NPI Number:
- License: AASW #458598 exp 2026-06-30 • AHPRA #PSY0002632549 exp 2026-11-30
Is Online Therapy the Right Step Toward Better Mental Health?
Many people wonder whether remote therapy can truly help. For common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties or navigating life changes, online therapy has been shown to be as effective as traditional in-person sessions for most people.
One major benefit is flexibility - clients can meet their therapist in the format that suits them best, whether by video call, phone, live chat or in-app messaging. This adaptability can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life.
All therapists are licensed professionals, and clients have the option to change therapists if they prefer a different fit. Online therapy offers accessible ways to receive evidence-based support for many everyday mental health challenges.
How much experience does Melissa Stokes have?
Melissa Stokes has 25 years of experience in providing therapy services.
In which languages does Melissa Stokes provide therapy?
Melissa Stokes provides therapy in English.
Where is Melissa Stokes located?
Melissa Stokes is located in Australia.
How can I work with Melissa Stokes as my therapist?
You can work with Melissa Stokes by phone, video, live chat or messaging.
How much does therapy with Melissa Stokes cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist’s availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the ‘Start Therapy’ button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with Melissa Stokes is quick and straightforward. Click the ‘Start Therapy’ button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.