About Melanie
Melanie Hocking helps people facing trauma, grief, parenting strains, low self-esteem and major life changes. She is an AASW social worker with 20 years of experience and a calm, steady presence in sessions. She focuses on perinatal mental health and supports people dealing with pregnancy, childbirth and the months after.
Melanie also helps those recovering from abuse or living with post-traumatic stress and panic. She aims to make talking about hard things less overwhelming and more manageable.
How Melanie works
Her style is conversational and practical. She creates space for feelings and thoughts without judgment, and she works with each person to set realistic goals. Sessions often include noticing current patterns, building coping strategies, and practising small changes that can be repeated at home.
Melanie draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques suited to each concern. She tailors her approach to a person’s situation and pace, and discusses options before trying new methods. The focus is on improving day-to-day functioning and increasing self-compassion.
People who come for help with parenting stress, caregiver strain, loneliness, or life purpose find a steady collaborator in Melanie. She supports work on communication, guilt and shame, mood difficulties, social anxiety and rebuilding confidence after loss. Her aim is practical progress that fits the realities of everyday life.
What Melanie works with
The areas below are the ones Melanie selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Parenting issues
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | AASW |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 20 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Australia |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Melanie’s approaches work online
Melanie uses established, evidence-based therapeutic techniques adapted to each person. One common approach focuses on stabilising responses after trauma by teaching grounding and breathing strategies, then building skills to manage panic and intense memories. This helps people feel less overwhelmed day to day.Another useful approach addresses perinatal mental health by exploring changes around pregnancy and early parenthood, identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing small routines that support mood and rest. This is practical work aimed at immediate relief and gradual recovery.
Choosing the right method is a collaborative process. Melanie discusses different approaches with each person and tailors the plan to their needs, goals and preferences. She checks in regularly and adjusts the focus as progress is made.
Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules. Video works well for a fuller conversation, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging is useful for short check-ins or when people prefer written reflection. These options make therapy more flexible for those balancing work, parenting or other commitments.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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