Melanie Hocking, AASW

Melanie Hocking is a counsellor licensed in Australia with 20 years of professional experience supporting people through major life challenges. She holds AASW, indicating membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, and has developed particular expertise in working with trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting concerns, self-esteem and confidence, and the emotional demands of life changes. Melanie also focuses on perinatal mental health and supports clients facing pregnancy and childbirth related distress.

Her practice emphasises a non-judgemental, open environment where clients can explore difficult thoughts and feelings at their own pace. She works collaboratively with each person to identify practical strategies and emotional skills that suit their situation, whether they are coping with relationship or attachment issues, caregiver stress, mood or panic symptoms, or social anxiety. Melanie aims to help clients build resilience, increase self-love and find clearer direction and purpose as they move toward a more fulfilling life.

Taking the first step toward change can feel daunting, and Melanie supports people through that process with steady, experienced guidance and an emphasis on respect and empathy.

Evidence-based approaches for trauma and perinatal care

Melanie draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to trauma and abuse, using trauma-informed approaches that help clients process difficult memories, reduce reactivity, and rebuild a sense of safety and agency. These methods focus on stabilisation, practical coping tools, and gradual processing to support recovery from post-traumatic stress and related symptoms.

She also applies targeted support for perinatal mental health, offering approaches that address mood changes, anxiety around pregnancy and childbirth, and the adjustment to parenting. This work emphasises emotional validation, practical problem solving, and building supports that suit the perinatal period.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Melanie works with each client to identify which evidence-based techniques best match their needs, goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as therapy progresses to ensure the best possible fit.

Online therapy with Melanie is offered by video call, phone session, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people balancing work, family and other commitments. These options make it easier to access consistent care from suitably qualified or registered professionals without losing therapeutic continuity, and they allow clients to choose the format that feels most comfortable and practical for their circumstances.