Hi there! Are you struggling with anxiety, motivation, or finding your place in a world that sometimes doesn’t feel like it was built for you? Have you been thinking about counseling but feel unsure or anxious about what to expect? If so, I’m here to help guide you through those first steps. My name is Melissa, and as a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I’m dedicated to creating a space where you feel understood and supported.
I draw on several therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. But I also deeply value your unique lived experiences, using a multicultural, trauma-informed, and neurodivergent-affirming approach that respects who you are.
My passion is helping young adults and adults who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, low self-esteem, rejection, or motivation challenges. I especially connect with clients who may resonate with traits of ADHD and/or Autism, as I understand the unique journey of navigating a world that can feel misaligned with your inner experience.
In our work together, my goal is to better understand how your past experiences shape your current perspectives and to help you find greater self-regulation and agency. We’ll explore your values, motivation patterns, and coping strategies that resonate with who you are.
I take a flexible approach, often using creative methods to help you lean into your strengths and break down the barriers of initial anxiety. Humor and a friendly, relaxed environment are essential to me because I know that trying something new, like therapy, can feel challenging. Feel free to bring in sensory or personal items that bring you comfort, and let’s incorporate movement and stimming if it helps you self-soothe.
Has anxiety been part of your life or becoming more regular in your life? Do you struggle with low self-esteem, regulating emotions or come from complex family dynamics? I specialize in working with those who have experienced complicated family dynamics and felt unseen/ unheard by the adults in their lives. I’m passionate about helping older youth and adults who struggle with anxiety, self-esteem, people-pleasing, and shame. In our sessions, you will find a safe, judgment-free space where you feel seen and heard, and where we work together towards meaningful change, at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
I support people who have loud inner critics/ deep beliefs such as “not being good enough,” or “there is something wrong with me” because of experiencing significant life events (trauma, attachment/ family, and cultural issues). Together, we can begin working towards empowering you to become your authentic self as you reclaim your inner dialogue.
My approach may involve looking at an individual’s past and present and exploring the system/culture in which they live. I use EMDR, internal family systems, and somatic approaches to understand and facilitate the process of uncovering the parts of you that are struggling, have unmet needs and discover ways to meet those needs and transform to a balance you.
