Meet Melissa

 

Melissa is a registered social worker with 20 years of experience supporting the mental health and well-being of infants, children, youth, and families in a variety of community and education settings. She is passionate about helping clients navigate a range of life challenges and emotions such as anxiety, low mood/depression, behaviour concerns, and other parenting concerns. With specialized training in infant and early childhood sleep and well-being, Melissa is also equipped to work with families to address sleep difficulties from a holistic perspective that centers connection and goes far beyond bedtime.

With a non-judgmental stance and a collaborative approach, Melissa strives to build a strong therapeutic relationship, in which clients feel their stories are heard and their concerns and goals are understood. She draws from a variety of evidence-informed treatment modalities and tools, such as Psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Her approach is tailored to the unique needs of each family and is always grounded in attachment theory.

In addition to her formal training, Melissa’s approach is inspired by the countless families she has had the privilege of learning from as well as her own lived experience as a parent of two young children.

*Please note that if your child attends the Catholic School Board we will look at matching you with an alternative associate due to potential professional conflict of interest.

The first step is a phone call with our Client Care Coordinator Anne-Marie to ensure that we get you set up with right support for your family’s unique needs.

Areas of treatment

 

  • Anxiety

  • Low mood/Depression

  • Behaviour concerns

  • School problems

  • Emotion regulation

  • Sleep support (ages 0-5)

  • Parenting challenges

 

Techniques used

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

  • Solution Focused Therapy

  • Parent/Caregiver Coaching

  • Psychoeducation

  • Dr. Neufeld’s Attachment-Based Developmental Approach

  • Play/Art based methods

Education

  • Master of Social Work – McGill University

  • Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior) – Trent University

  • Bachelor of Social Work – McMaster University

Certifications

  • Sleep and Well-Being Specialist – Infant/Early Childhood

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Training

  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – Trainer Status

  • Ontario Certified Teacher

Professional Associations

  • Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)

  • Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)

  • Ontario College of Teachers (OCT)