Hi there, I'm Melanie
As a dedicated mom and a Registered Nurse Psychotherapist, I understand that watching your child struggle can feel overwhelming. With experience in both healthcare and mental health, I know that emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health.
My journey led me to specialize in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)—a gentle, research-backed approach that meets children where they are. I'm certified in CCPT, trained to help kids process their experiences through play, their most natural form of communication.
I believe there are no "bad" kids. Just children who need understanding, patience, and the right support to thrive. My goal is to create a safe, nurturing space where your child can heal at their own pace.
Through play therapy, I help children build emotional resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and express what they're feeling—even when words are hard to find.
Why Work With Me?
_edited.jpg)
_edited_edited_.jpg)
As a therapist certified in Child-Centered Play Therapy, I provide specialized, evidence-based support designed specifically for children.
Play therapy isn't just playing—it's a powerful therapeutic approach that helps children process difficult emotions and experiences in a way that feels natural to them.
Specialized Support for Your Child
01
Child-Led Sessions
Your child leads the play while I follow their pace with acceptance, empathy, and understanding. Without pressure to talk or perform, children are free to express themselves, explore what matters to them, and communicate in the way that feels natural to them.
02
Safe & Consistent Space
A dedicated playroom with carefully selected toys that support emotional expression through play. A consistent therapeutic presence and reserved session time—weekly, biweekly, or monthly—create the safety and trust children need to do meaningful work.
03
Child-Centred Play Therapy
An evidence-based approach rooted in deep respect for children and trust in their innate capacity for growth. Through acceptance, empathy, and a relationship built on understanding, children are given the freedom to discover their own way forward.
04
Ongoing Parent Support
After every 5th session, you receive a personalized written update by email, including themes observed in your child’s play, areas of growth, and ways to support their therapeutic work at home. Weekly live parent support sessions are also included.
Approaches
My practice is grounded in the Humanistic, Person-Centered work of Carl Rogers and his belief that every person has an innate capacity for growth. I carry that belief into my work with children: I don't see children as problems to be fixed, but as whole people who are doing the best they can with what they have experienced and what they know.
Virginia Axline took Rogers' philosophy and brought it into the world of children, laying the foundation for Child-Centered Play Therapy. Her work deeply resonates with how I believe children deserve to be met—with acceptance, empathy, respect, and genuine trust in their ability to work through their experiences when given the space and relationship to do so.
My practice is specifically rooted in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) and the work of Garry Landreth & Dee Ray, who have helped develop, teach, and research this approach. For me, CCPT is not simply a set of techniques. It is a way of being with children. Through the therapeutic relationship and the natural language of play, children are given the freedom to express what they may not yet have words for, explore their inner world, and move toward growth in their own time and in their own way.
Get Practical Tips in Your Inbox
Sign up for occasional insights on supporting your child's emotional wellbeing. It's free and full of real-life tips that make a difference.
By subscribing, you agree to receive occasional updates and helpful information from us. You can unsubscribe anytime.