Melissa Harkin
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Melissa Harkin
Mental Health Accredited Social Worker
Gladesville
Melissa is a fully qualified Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) who trained at University of Sydney (BSW). Melissa has over 25 years of counselling experience in both Health, Education and private practice settings. Melissa has previously worked for NSW Health across multiple clinical areas in leadership positions. More recently, Melissa is the Head of Counselling at a private high school.
An intuitive therapist, Melissa understands and appreciates the complexity of life. Individuals are more than a clinical diagnosis. So whilst being qualified and experienced in providing evidence-based therapies to assist with the management of mental health issues and neurodiversity (ADHD and ASD counselling), Melissa is also equipped with the skills and experience to assist individuals manage their social environments and social systems (relationships, employment, school etc). Melissa is a 'big-picture' systems-focused clinician who applies relevant therapies - CBT, mindfulness, Narrative, Brief-Solutions-Focussed, Psychodynamic based on the presenting need. Melissa is passionate about supporting children, adolescents and adults age 12+.
Melissa's approach is also particularly valuable for individuals under-going major life change or a loss/bereavement. This includes: marital breakdown/separation, job loss, major family issues (conflict, estrangement), newly diagnosed/acquired disability, parents/carers of adolescents experiencing mental unwellness or neurodivergence.
Melissa has a special interest in supporting gifted individuals and their parents. Melissa is aware that giftedness does not always equal high achievement. Melissa is committed to educating and supporting both individuals and parents around the unique traits that come with being gifted. The end goal being, helping individuals manage and ultimately value their uniqueness to enable them to develop healthy, fulfilling and rewarding relationships and careers.
An emotionally intuitive and highly experienced clinical supervisor of social workers, counsellors (ACA) and registered psychologists. Melissa welcomes requests for clinical supervision. A skilled and engaging speaker, Melissa is open to requests from schools to provide talks & forums on anything from parenting to wellbeing and mental health.
