About Mel

“YOU are the expert in your life, and we are just two people figuring it out together.”

Hi! My name is Mel Galbraith. I am a Master of Social Work (MSW), psychotherapist, and have strong clinical skills focused on working with individuals from a trauma informed perspective. I have a Bachelors of Arts in Social Development Studies where I specialized in Social Work from the University of Waterloo, an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Work from Fanshawe College, and received my Master Degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. I have been working in the mental health field for over a decade, and have worked for community agencies, specialized treatment facilities, and for the school board.  

I believe that we all do the best we can with the skills and resources we have, at any given time. I also believe that we all have the resources and skills to bring a sense of calm, clarity, and compassion to all parts and aspects of our inner worlds; you are your greatest resource. I believe you have the tools and skills needed to heal and help yourself get to the place you are striving for. Sometimes we just need help finding our inner resources.

I am committed to helping people recognize and attain their desired potential by holding space for folks to explore beliefs, ideas, and attitudes they have taken on about themselves and their identity through various traumatic or harmful life experiences. I have found that as folks come to hold a calm, compassionate, and curious stance about their emotions and behaviours, they are able to begin to hold a non-judgemental view of themselves, which empowers people to come to a place where they can see and begin to embody their preferred narrative and identity.

It is essential to me that trust and safety are earned and built within the therapeutic relationship, and I operate under the premise that YOU are the expert in your life, and we are just two people figuring it out together. The therapy process is a collaboration between therapist and client, and I am dedicated at decreasing the power imbalance that can be felt within therapy sessions. I feel honoured to join people for a short time on their life journey and healing process, I am humbled by the strength, perseverance, and commitment all people bring to their lives, and how powerfully and fiercely people work to not only keep themselves safe, but to fight for the life they truly want. 

Lee Jester

I worked with Melissa for about a year and it changed my life. I have worked with many therapists of various disciplines and Mel and IFS are unquestionably the best. 

Mel skillfully kept me focused on my "protectors" and patiently allowed me to understand how they control my life. I now have a far better understanding of myself and the factors that molded me and why. She will help you into a greater and deeper understanding of yourself.

I would strongly encourage anyone to seek her guidance and wisdom. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself

Certifications & Training

  • IFS Shame Camp (Martha Sweezy, Tony Herbine-Blank, September 2023)

  • Level 3, Internal Family Systems Therapy (Cece Sykes, August 2023)

  • Relational Intelligence, pt 1 (Francois Le Doze, April 2023)

  • The Gifts of Exiles (Paul Neustadt, March 2023)

  • Healing Preverbal Trauma with IFS (Colleen West, October 2022)

  • Somatic IFS Advanced Training (Susan McConnell, July 2022)

  • A Compassionate Approach to Addictive Processes with IFS (Dick Schwartz & Cece Sykes, June 2022)

  • Introduction to Relational Intelligence (Francois Le Doze, June 2022)

  • Hakomi Intro: A Body Centred Approach to Trauma (Pamela Thompson & Magi Cooper, March 2022)

  • Somatic IFS Series (Susan McConnell, November 2021)

  • Level 2, Trauma and Neuroscience of IFS (Frank Anderson & Fran Booth, June 2021)

  • Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Frank Anderson, March 2021)

  • Level 1, Internal Family Systems Therapy (Paul Ginter & Mona Barbera, February 2021)

  • Internal Family Systems Online Circle (Dick Schwartz, Tony Herbine-Blank, & Pamela Krause, September 2020)

  • Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (Sue Johnston, June 2020) 

  • Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems Therapy (Frank Anderson April 2020)

  • Internal Family Systems Skills and Competencies Training (Derek Scott, December 2019)

  • Overcoming Roadblocks to Healing with Internal Family Systems (Frank Anderson, June 2019)

  • Narrative Therapy, Responding to Trauma, Level 1 & 2 (Narrative Therapy Centre, May 2019) 

  • Narrative Approaches to Work with Trauma: Justice Doing & Witnessing Resistance (Vikki Reynolds, May 2019)

Contact us

Contact us

If you would like to book an appointment, would like more information, or would like to book a free consult with me, please reach out to my assistant Jonnelle.

Email @ jonnelle@mgcounsellingoffice.com

Or simply fill out the contact form.

Thanks so much!