Dr Melissa J Ree

My main specialty is in the psychological management of adults with Insomnia and sleep difficulties. I've had a special interest in the field of sleep and insomnia since 2002.

I use evidence based treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I will ask you to have an active role in determining your goals and the direction treatment takes. After most sessions you will be given something to read, or something to write/think about, or together we might suggest trailing a new strategy or way of approaching things. Implementing new strategies can be challenging and time will be spent in sessions helping you to find ways to approach things differently. Usually the treatment will not take a lot of time during the week but giving some time to meeting your goals is important for maximising treatment effectiveness.

In terms of my background...I completed a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. with distinction at UWA in Perth, 2001. I then worked at the University of Oxford as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry. During this time, I worked on a treatment trial of Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Insomnia. Since returning to Perth I've continued to be active in treatment, training, and research into psychological aspects of insomnia, anxiety, and depression. I've published a number of papers on the subject and have written two treatment protocols for Insomnia.

I've worked in both clinical and research roles at private psychiatric hospitals in Perth, and have worked in private practice since 2004. I'm a mum to three lovely children and consult part-time alongside my academic role at UWA.