Melissa Melnick

Psychotherapy for freer and more connected life

I have worked primarily from a psychodynamic framework for 23 years in South Africa and New Zealand since 2020. Psychodynamic psychotherapy provides an opportunity to get free of emotional difficulties that have become painful or disruptive in your life, foster greater self-awareness, and the growth of the whole person.

It will also address symptoms that you may be struggling with, as well as the reasons as to why they may have arisen in the first place, what sustains them, what makes them worse, and what helps reduce or alleviate them.

Adult Psychotherapy

I offer both short- and long-term psychotherapy to individuals who may be struggling with emotional difficulties. My approach involves an active collaboration where we work together to address your emotional distress so that you can have a better understanding of yourself, and a live freer and more connected life … more

Some reasons you may want to consult a psychologist/psychotherapist include:

• to understand yourself better
• struggles with a significant relationship
• constant worries, low mood, depression and sadness
• support for a psychiatric diagnosis
• addictions or an eating disorder
• have experienced a traumatic life event such as divorce, death of a loved one
• serious illness/chronic health condition/chronic pain
• life adjustments: parenthood, midlife, retirement, concerns related to ageing
• concerns about your child’s behavior or academic progress

Adolescent Psychotherapy

Every teenager will respond differently to changes in life. Sometimes these changes may put strain on parent-adolescent relationships, cause difficulties at school or home, or even lead to symptoms of anxiety or depression. Providing teenagers with the opportunity to discuss their difficulties confidentially can allow them: to further develop skills towards greater age-appropriate independence; work through the emotional stress they may be experiencing; and improve their overall functioning at home, school, within the family, and with peers/social environment … more

Couple Psychotherapy

I offer couple therapy which is an in-depth treatment for couples. I work from a psychodynamic perspective with heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender couples who are having relationship difficulties and want to explore how these problems have arisen and what interferes with resolving them. We all know that intimate relationships can be very challenging. But through couple’s work, they can also be a source of profound healing of past hurts, and a dismantling of frustrating and counter-productive relationship patterns … more

Premarital Therapy:

For most couples after the early romance fades you come to know each other in more complex ways. When done with eyes and hearts open, exploring how your differences can influence the family/couple life you would like to create, can greatly increase the chance of fulfilment and longevity for your relationship.

Uncoupling, Separation and Divorce Support:

Honoring yourself and your relationship enough to come to mutual understanding of incompatibilities that cannot be accommodated, releases each of you from the bond in ways that usually enable you to move forward and eventually create a better relationship.