Mel Kilo (Albury/Corowa/Wagga)

Areas of interest:

  • Creative arts therapies

  • Adolescents and children

  • Gender identity

  • LGBTIAQ+ community

  • Depression/Anxiety

  • Stress management

  • Neurodivergent - including Autistic/ADHD

  • EMDR

  • Medicare accredited/NDIS

Melanie Kilo (She/Her) is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and Creative Arts Therapist.

Currently available Monday to Wednesday in Albury, Thursdays in Corowa, and every second Friday in Wagga.

Melanie holds a Masters in Social Work from La Trobe University, and has a special interest in working with queer and neurodivergent people. She works well with a wide age range, but especially with children, adolescents and parents. Melanie previously worked as a Family Services Practitioner at Upper Murray Family Care, and is experienced at working with the whole family, with the view that our relationships with others, especially our families, impact significantly on our capacity to grow and heal.

Melanie completed her Certificate of Initiatic Art Therapy in April 2015 with the Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy & School for Initiatic Art Therapy, and the Certificate of Clay Field Therapy on May 22nd, 2016. At the end of 2019, Melanie attained her Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice from MIECAT. Mel recently completed both Level 1 and Level 2 in EMDR Therapy, and is currently undergoing accreditation.

Mel helps clients to resolve their presenting psychological problems, the associated social and other environmental problems, and improve their quality of life. This may involve family as well as individual counselling, and group therapy (some groups may be run on a regular basis). She recognises the broader implications of an individual having a mental illness and the impact on friends, family, work and education. Mel welcomes diversity including all body sizes, abilities, races, sexualities, genders, religions and political values.

“I grew up in the Wagga and Albury/Wodonga regions, and love the regional lifestyle it provides for myself and my family. I believe in having access to prompt, local, and affordable services, especially after my own life experiences with trauma, grief, and loss. The loss of my daughter at the age of two months in 2007, due to a genetic disorder, was devastating, however the experiences I had with the “helpers” through this inspired me to study social work. My older child, Jules, coming out as trans at the end of 2018, has taught me so much about gender and sexuality diversity as I’ve supported him on his journey. It’s now become a focus of mine, to work with, and support adolescents struggling with their identity journey.

For me, creativity is one of the best ways to notice, experience, and express yourself, I personally enjoy losing myself in reading and writing; learning and exploring in arts and crafts; experimenting in the kitchen; and getting my bare feet dirty in the garden. I’m an enthusiast of pets as therapy, and have four adopted cats; I also adore dinosaurs and unicorns, although do not have any as pets at the moment. I love doing yoga, tai chi, and swimming. I pursue the small pleasures in delicious coffee and tea, as well as in thunderstorms and dancing in the rain… by myself (I’m quite introverted).

Cristy Houghton