​Melissa is a health psychologist specialising in the care of adolescents (16+) and adults with a range of psychological concerns. She uses a holistic, client-centered approach that is collaborative and personable. Her special interest is working with individuals who present with chronic disease, traumatic injury, and life limiting illness, although she works with anyone wanting to achieve psychological wellness regardless of health status and tailors interventions to individual needs.​

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In addition to private practice, Melissa works as a senior health psychologist at The Prince Charles Hospital in the lung transplant service. In this role, she provides comprehensive psychological assessment and intervention for individuals both pre- and post-transplant. Melissa also works in paediatrics, where she facilitates neuropsychological assessment for children and adolescents referred for emotional and behavioural concerns, autism, ADHD, learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, and giftedness.

 

Prior to these roles, Melissa worked at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, where she supported both inpatient and outpatient services and multidisciplinary teams. She provided psychological assessment and intervention across a range of specialties, including surgeries, intensive care, trauma, transplantation, infectious disease, chronic disease, palliative care, acute stroke, rehabilitation, general medicine, and geriatric care.

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Melissa enjoys presenting to medical and allied health audiences, has tutored undergraduate psychology and postgraduate clinical psychology subjects, and worked with Senior Research Fellows in the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Queensland in psychiatric genetics and perinatal and infant mental health.​

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She uses evidence-based treatment and has completed additional training in:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

• Motivational Interviewing

• Interpersonal Therapy

• Compassion Focused Therapy

• Emotionally Focused Therapy

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy​

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Beyond work, Melissa cherishes spending time in nature, travelling, writing, and being creative. She has lived in Africa, Europe, and Australia and speaks Afrikaans and conversational isiZulu.