Melissa Johari

Meet Melissa

Melissa Johari, Clinic Director of The Couple Wellness Experts, BA, MSW, RSW, CCFT

Melissa is a Registered Social Worker based in Toronto who has worked with families of all ages and of various racial, cultural and religious backgrounds since 2004. She founded The Couple Wellness Expert, as a therapist who specializes in couples counselling, in early 2012. As she grew her practice, she changed it to "The Couple Wellness Experts" (adding the 's') in 2023. She is Canadian and is of mixed racial background  (Malaysian and Dutch).

Melissa has her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario, and a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Melissa is also expecting to graduate in May 2024 with a Master in Theological Studies. In her studies and in further post-graduate training, she has developed skills in and practices Gottman Method, PREP-Enrich premarital therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Resilience in Marriage therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Strengths Perspective, Mindfulness Theory, Psychodynamic Therapy, Anti-Oppressive Practice, Relational Life Therapy, Hypnotherapy and Fundamentals of Supervision. She is also a trained "7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" Workshop Leader.

Melissa believes that each person is unique and does not try to fit the individual or couple to a theory but rather uses an integrative approach in applying her training, based on your own needs.  You are the expert on your own lives, and Melissa helps you to navigate through inevitable challenges along life’s journey.  Melissa takes a holistic (systemic) perspective, taking into account all areas of your lives: financial, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, vocational, sexual, and environmental.  She developed the Relational Wellness Wheel in 2011, to demonstrate how each of these areas of wellness interacts with your relationship.  See Melissa’s “Relational Wellness Wheel” for more information.

Melissa primarily offers video counselling, and has an office location with limited office hours in Mississauga, Ontario. 

Melissa is a Member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) and is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).  Social Work is covered under many extended health benefit plans.  It is also a tax deduction when claimed as a medical expense.  Melissa is also a Clinical Fellow with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT/OAMFT), and is the President of the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Melissa provides supervision services for other practitioners who are further developing their skills and who are continuing to grow along their professional journey. Whether you are a professional who has just graduated or an experienced therapist, Melissa is happy to offer consulting services to you in your private practice.  Coming from a predominantly Emotionally Focused Therapy and Prep-Enrich background, this is demonstrated in her work with supervisees in terms of helping you to facilitate insight and change in your work with your clients and recognizing your own personal strengths and areas of growth.  In addition, using a Strengths-based, Mindfulness, Holistic (Systemic), Culturally sensitive approach, she likes to work together with her supervisees in a collaborative, sensitive, challenging and supportive manner.

As a Registered Social Worker with a Master in Social Work and a Supervisor Candidate with AAMFT, Melissa is qualified to offer Supervision to Social Workers, Registered Psychotherapists and Qualifying Registered Psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.