Melissa Abarzua

Accepts bookings for:

Melissa is a warm and compassionate Psychologist with extensive experience working with children, adolescents and adults in both the public and private sectors. Melissa strives to create a non-judgemental space where people can feel heard and comfortable to explore the issues that are most challenging for them. She aims to work collaboratively with her clients and their families to provide them with ways to address and better manage their difficulties and to live a life that is in line with their values. Melissa provides individual therapy to adolescents and adults, and has a special interest in anxiety disorders, life transitions, mood disorders, school-related difficulties, as well as trauma and stressor-related disorders. Her approach to therapy is collaborative and systemic, and she describes herself as an eclectic therapist that uses skills from different evidenced-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills. Melissa is also an accredited Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) clinician, with TF-CBT Australia.

Having a background in schools, Melissa is also experienced in psychometric assessment of emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties, and uses information gained through these assessments to implement systemic support plans.

Melissa accepts bookings for children aged 6+, adolescents, and adults of all ages.

Qualifications:

Melissa obtains the following qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)

Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours)

Master of Professional Psychology

Master of Psychological Practice (Clinical)

Melissa holds full registration as a Psychologist and is a Board Approved Supervisor with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Key services:

• Life transitions

• Mood disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• School-related difficulties

• Interpersonal difficulties

• Emotional dysregulation

• Trauma + complex PTSD

• Adjustment and stressor related difficulties

• Self-esteem and self-development