Melanie works with children ages 5+, teens and adults. She supports children and teens experiencing anxiety, anger, depression, ADHD, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioural concerns, self-harm and the impact of parental separation or other family changes. She also works with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, self-esteem concerns, emotional overwhelm and difficult life experiences.

Melanie is particularly well suited to children and teens who may feel unsure about counselling or who find it difficult to explain what they are feeling through conversation alone. Building trust comes before pushing into difficult topics. She adapts the amount of guidance she provides to the young person’s comfort level and takes time to explain what counselling is, what privacy means and what they can expect.

With younger clients, Melanie uses play, games, creative activities, fidget tools and body-based strategies to give children different ways to communicate and understand what is happening for them. She may also use simple visual explanations and body-based exercises to help children recognize physical reactions and connect them with emotions.

An important part of Melanie’s work is helping clients notice what is happening in their bodies as well as their emotions. Her work draws from trauma-informed, Internal Family Systems and Polyvagal-informed approaches, with strategies adapted to the individual rather than expecting everyone to engage in counselling in the same way.

With teens, that can mean allowing more choice and space as trust develops. With adults, Melanie can help slow down emotional reactions and patterns so they can be understood more clearly. Across ages, she adjusts how she works based on the person in front of her and what they need from counselling.

Melanie holds a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work from York University. She is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Outside of counselling, Melanie enjoys music and playing instruments, crocheting, watching Formula 1 and sitting on the beach with a good book.