Melissa Ander

About Melissa Ander

Before Melissa's mother passed away, she looked at Melissa's newborn baby and said, "This is... everything." That moment became more than a memory—it became a guiding principle in Melissa's clinical work, a core value at her practice at the North Shore Centre for Attachment, and a personal commitment to growth as a mother, partner, sister, daughter, and friend. This foundation and deep passion to help others is what sparked the idea for The BetterLove Project.

With over 20 years of experience working with children, youth, and families, Melissa's approach is rooted in the belief that human development is profoundly shaped by our relationships. Her work integrates attachment science, neurobiology, and systems thinking to address mental health and behavioural challenges in a holistic, relational context.

Although trained in a wide range of evidence-based and skill-focused modalities, Melissa emphasises the importance of treating individuals within the systems they live in—family, school, work, and community. She believes our nervous systems, belief structures, emotional patterns, and coping mechanisms are formed in connection with others, and that healing must also happen within those connections.

As a Clinical Director and Family Development Specialist, Melissa focuses on supporting clients across the lifespan through preventative care, crisis intervention, and reparative therapy. Her goal is to help families and individuals move toward greater health by identifying barriers and modelling attachment principles in action.

Melissa holds a deep respect for the families she has served—hundreds of whom have contributed to the growth of her work and the mission of NSCA. Now, Melissa is passionate about taking her experience and sharing it with a larger audience through The BetterLove Project.