Melissa Garstang-Leary
Founder | Clinical Counsellor, Child, Family & Couples Therapist
My journey into counselling has been shaped by a lifelong passion for relationships, connection, and community. With a career spanning education, Defence, and private practice, I have always been drawn to supporting people through challenge, growth, and change.
I founded Inner Wisdom Counselling and Wellbeing in Margate on the Redcliffe Peninsula on the belief that healing begins with reconnecting to our own inner knowing, and that lasting change unfolds within safe, supportive relationships. Creating a practice within the local community has allowed me to support children, young people, parents, families, and couples as they navigate life's challenges and strengthen their relationships with themselves and others. This philosophy continues to guide my work today, including child counselling, play therapy, teen counselling, parenting support, family therapy, and couples counselling.
Alongside being a counsellor, therapist, and educator, I am also a parent who understands both the joys and complexities of family life. My professional and personal experiences have deepened my appreciation of the importance of connection, belonging, and emotionally safe relationships.
I feel deeply privileged to walk alongside people during some of life's most challenging and transformative seasons. Whether supporting a child through big emotions, helping parents strengthen connection with their children, assisting families through periods of change, or supporting couples to reconnect and grow together, my aim is to provide a therapeutic space that is warm, welcoming, respectful, and free from judgement.
