The Full Story
About
Hi, my name is Melissa Williams and I am the owner of Zen Mind Body Therapies. I am a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Strategic Psychotherapist and have been a local to the Northern Beaches area of Sydney for over 20 years.
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My passion for holistic health and wellness begun around 5 years ago.
It started with number of health issues and a nagging feeling that I wanted more out of life which lead to a truly transformational and deeply personal journey of self education and personal development.
I completed various trainings and courses in various modalities including EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), the essentials of Functional and Holistic Nutrition, various Breathwork techniques and practices for healing and transformational change and had my nose in books and booked myself into mini courses on health, healing, biology, psychology and self development.
My learning and deep desire to understand the world around me still continues every single day and will do throughout my life.
I firmly believe we should always remain students of life, because there is always something to learn.
We can never possibly know everything.
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In 2022, I achieved a milestone by completing a 10791NAT Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis and Strategic Psychotherapy and a Master Practitioner Level Neuro Linguistic Programming Qualification (NLP)
both at the Institute of Applied Psychology with Gordon Young,
which really set the ball in motion for me and profoundly changed the course of my life forever.
My unique blend of skills, thirst for knowledge, my deep desire to understand and to help others is what allows me to remain dedicated to nurturing my clients on their various journeys to achieving a more Zen state of mind and body and a healthier and more realistic view of themselves, the world around them and their place within it.
Practice
As a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Strategic Psychotherapist based in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, I offer a unique, personalised approach to mental health treatment to my local clients, ensuring each individual's specific needs are met rather than applying a generic therapy model. Drawing on the principles of Milton Erickson, my practice revolves around understanding that each person is unique and requires tailored therapeutic interventions to address their specific issues.
Summary of my Practice
Clinical Hypnotherapy -
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I utilise hypnotherapy to help clients access their subconscious mind, facilitating change at a deep level. This can be particularly effective for issues such as anxiety, depression, addictions, and other psychological challenges. Hypnotherapy helps clients tap into their inner resources and develop new, healthier patterns of thinking and behaviour.
Strategic Psychotherapy -
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Strategic Psychotherapy is a structured, goal-oriented approach that focuses on identifying and altering the underlying cognitive patterns that sustain psychological problems. I emphasise the importance of internal locus of control, helping clients understand that they can influence their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, even if they cannot control external circumstances.
Tools
The Gordian Pillars
I employ a framework known in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Strategic Psychotherapy training as the "Gordian Pillars", which are self-organising filters, cognitive styles, environmental triggers, and discrimination skills that support common presenting problems in therapy.
These pillars include:
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Global Thinking -
Clients often make broad, unqualified statements that inflate problems. Therapy involves breaking down these globalisations to address specific issues.
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Internal Orientation -
Clients may spend too much time focused inwardly, ruminating on their emotions rather than engaging with the external world. Shifting this focus can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Ineffective Compartmentalisation -
Problems in one area of life can spill over into others. Helping clients effectively "compartmentalise" their problems, thoughts and behaviours can prevent small issues from becoming overwhelming.
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Low Tolerance for Ambiguity -
Many clients have a low tolerance for uncertainty, leading to anxiety. Improving their risk assessment and tolerance for ambiguity can reduce this tendency.
Addressing the Foundation
A key aspect of my approach is addressing the foundation of an external locus of control. Clients often see their problems as external attacks rather than internal processes. By helping them internalise control, they can learn to manage their responses and emotions more effectively. This involves distinguishing between what they can control, what they can influence, and what is beyond their control.
Common Issues Addressed -
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I work with clients on a range of issues, including but not limited to:
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Anxiety and Depression
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Addictions and Dependencies
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Obsessive and Compulsive Behaviors
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Post-Traumatic Stress
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Anger and Low Self-Esteem
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Phobias, Procrastination, and Insomnia
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Social and Performance Anxiety
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Post-Natal Depression
Therapeutic Process
My therapeutic process involves:
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Initial Assessment: Identifying the presenting issues and underlying cognitive patterns.
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Strategic Interventions: Applying targeted strategies to disrupt these patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
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Ongoing Support: Continuously monitoring progress and making adjustments as needed to ensure effective treatment outcomes.
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Conclusion
In essence I am dedicated to providing individualised, strategic therapy that empowers clients to take control of their mental health. By focusing on internal locus of control and dismantling unhelpful cognitive patterns, I help clients achieve lasting change and improved well-being.
