Melissa Howie has many years of experience backed with extensive professional development and qualifications specialising in working with children and adolescents, particularly in areas such as play therapy, sand play, trauma, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, OCD, perfectionism, social anxiety, separation anxiety, anger, assertiveness/confidence, suicide/self-harm, and grief and loss.
As a certified AutPlay therapist, her expertise allows her to provide an accredited program for autistic/ADHD children and adolescents. Schema therapy interventions suitable for children are utilised as an early intervention approach to work with trauma responses (e.g., fears, self-esteem issues, family issues, and/or bullying).
Melissa also uses a brain/body parenting approach, working closely with parents in identifying both bottom-up and top-down interventions that are suitable in addressing and improving a range of issues for children. She promotes co-regulation parenting principles and emotion-coaching, including parents into the treatment approach as required.
