Melissa is a Registered Counsellor and Clinical Member with the Singapore Association of Counselling (SAC) and graduated with a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Psychology) Honours from the National University of Singapore, and subsequently a Master in Counselling from Monash University. She has had extensive experience working in the community and a psychiatric rehabilitation setting with people struggling with mental health related challenges like depression, anxiety, psychoses who presented with a range of concerns including work stress and burnout, trauma, interpersonal relationship difficulties, grief and loss and difficulties adapting to transitions in life.

Her therapeutic approach is mainly trauma focused, relational and integrative, drawing on psychodynamic, mindfulness, emotion-focused, EMDR and somatic approaches. Melissa is also qualified to work with couples having completed her training in Gottman Method Couples therapy (Level 3). In Melissa’s trauma training, she has also been trained to use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She strongly believes in customising the therapy process to ensure a good fit with individual clients’ needs. In her work, Melissa sees the crucial role she plays as facilitating people to connect authentically with themselves and others so that they can reclaim their agency and feel empowered to meet the full potential that exists within them. She gains immense satisfaction when clients find their own voice and are comfortable with inhabiting their space in this world, no longer isolated and disconnected, from themselves and others.

Melissa honours what clients bring to therapy with their respective strengths and capacities and believes in compassionately supporting and empowering them through their struggles, holding a safe and non-judgmental space where they could express themselves openly.

Melissa is passionate about being an advocate for good mental health and destigmatizing therapy, that therapy is for everyone and not just for people with pathology and dysfunction. Therapy is a journey where the individual could discover and embrace their core self. This passion extends beyond the therapy room to the community where she has given talks to organizations on topics like: Understanding Depression, Emotional Regulation, Emotional Resilience,Youth Mental Health and Suicide, Adjusting to WFH during COVID.