About Melissa
Professional Journey
My professional journey has been rich and rewarding, spanning various fields including Education, Defence, and private practice. Throughout my career, relationships, connections, and community have been the cornerstone of my work. This inspired me to pursue post-graduate studies in psychology and counselling, focusing on mental health, crisis and trauma intervention, children and play therapy, and couples counselling. To complement my teaching and counselling registrations, I trained with the Queensland Institute of Play Therapy (QIPT) as part of my journey towards registration as a Play Therapist.
My vision is to empower individuals with knowledge and tools to heal and thrive in their relationship with themselves and others. It is on this premise that Inner Wisdom Counselling and Wellbeing was founded.
Professional Framework
As a Masters-level, ACA Registered and PACFA Certified Practising Counsellor, I am dedicated to providing effective, evidence-based interventions that support deep meaningful personal growth and promote emotional and mental wellbeing in children, couples, and families.
I take an integrative approach to therapy that is humanistic, trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and relationally focused. My practice is grounded in systems theory, neuroscience, neurobiology, and attachment theory. I believe in understanding the whole person—recognising how relationships, personal history, and the meaning we assign to life events shape our experiences.
I strive to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment built on compassion, respect, and trust—where clients feel heard, understood, and valued. I deeply honour the courage it takes to seek support and work collaboratively with clients to empower them to live purposefully and thrive.
When working with children, my approach is grounded in Child-Centred Play Therapy and informed by Synergetic Play Therapy. I believe in the healing power of play as a natural language for children to express themselves and process their inner world. I foster a space of acceptance and safety, where children can explore their feelings and develop emotional resilience. I also partner with parents and caregivers to strengthen connection, promote felt safety, and support nervous system regulation within the family.
In family work, I draw on Integrative Attachment Family Therapy, Filial Therapy, and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy to support healthy family dynamics and deep relational repair.
With couples, I use the Gottman Method and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Couples to help build emotional safety, deepen understanding, and restore trust, intimacy, and commitment.
I believe that every individual has the capacity for change—change that can lead to a more fulfilling, connected, and meaningful life. If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey, I invite you to reach out.
Inner Wisdom Counselling and Wellbeing acknowledges the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, and Turrbal peoples and pays respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. Inner Wisdom Counselling and Wellbeing recognises that the Moreton Bay region has always been a place of cultural, spiritual, social and economic significance to its Traditional Custodians.
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