Meet Your Therapist: Melanie
Hi, I'm Melanie.
I’m an expressive arts therapist with a deep commitment to helping you explore, express, and grow—whether through conversation, movement, art, or whatever feels right in the moment.
My Background
First of all, I’m an expat, more than once over. Prague, though, has had my heart for many years. I know so well the dichotomy of being in a place where you want to be, for one reason or another, but also experiencing the challenges that come with the commitment to living here. I hold multiple degrees, including a degree in Expressive Arts Therapy from a highly regarded university in Australia.
Over the years, I’ve worked as a fully qualified and registered teacher at all levels—from young children to university students, to CEOs in large companies. Right from the beginning, this work was always shaped by my love for engaging with people through language, visual art, drama, music, and storytelling. These areas have always been a big part of my personal and professional life, whether through writing, creating artwork, or integrating creative expression into my teaching and projects.
After a serious accident and a challenging illness while living in Prague in 2014, I faced the difficult task of recovering not just physically, but also psychologically, financially, and personally. During this time, I encountered expressive arts therapy for the first time during a much-needed sabbatical. It was in this moment that the penny dropped for me—I knew this was the path I wanted to pursue. This journey of transformation led me to gain my degree in expressive arts therapy, a long but rewarding path which I navigated with the guidance of practising industry professionals who shaped my understanding of integrating art and therapy.
Professional Experience in Mental Wellness
Creator and key facilitator of Head and Heart Expression Room since 2024
Interned in mental health hospitals, gaining the trust of individuals in vulnerable situations.
Supported people at critical moments in their lives—inpatients dealing with severe and acute struggles, and outpatients who chose to participate in weekly group therapy in order to grow and better their lives.
Worked alongside clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, offering a compassionate, creative approach to help people process their emotions.
Approximately 400 hours of psychodrama training, working in practice groups with professional mental health specialists, government employees, and others who found the skills they were developing useful for sensitively and empathically managing teams and understanding their place within a team or with individual clients.
During weekend psychodrama intensives, which took place one weekend per month, over the course of two years, I learned from and practied with leaders in the field and gained valuable skills in group dynamics and individual work. This combined training in psychodrama and expressive arts therapy has shaped my approach, which is integrated, flexible, and client-centered.
I regularly engage in professional development workshops (both in physical spaces and online) which are led by industry professionals world-wide – honing, building and adapting my skills in the field and keeping myself up-to-date as the world we live in continues to change right before our eyes.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe in creating a safe and supportive space where we can explore your story, your emotions, and your growth through whatever means feel right—whether it’s through visual art, movement, dramatic enactment or simply having a thoughtful conversation. I combine talk therapy, creative expression, and movement-based techniques to help you access parts of yourself that words alone might not reach. Since returning to Prague, I’ve made it my goal to offer a unique therapeutic experience in a fully equipped space, led in English.
I’m here to help you explore and continue your story, supporting you in growing into the best version of yourself. I truly believe in the power of playful exploration, combined with thoughtful conversation and also the gift of silence, while you use your hands, body, and the materials provided to work through your goals. I’ve witnessed firsthand, from both sides, the healing that happens when we are open to exploring all facets of ourselves. My ultimate goal is to help you create the space to evolve, express, and discover who you really are. You won’t be judged, and you won’t be alone. I’m there as your therapist, to walk alongside you.
I can’t wait to meet you and hear, see, and experience your story.
