Working Through Life’s Challenges Together

Melissa

  • My name’s Melissa, and I’m a BACP (Accred) psychotherapist.

    I appreciate your consideration in choosing me as your therapist. Or, if you’re currently working with me, I just want to take a moment to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey!

    I specialise in personalising therapy to meet you where you are—whether you need a safe space to feel heard, or you're ready to create meaningful change in your life. Your voice is heard, and your needs matter to me.

    Change happens in your own time, and in a way that’s right for you. Together, we can rewire your nervous system and brain pathways through the uniqueness of therapy, tapping into your own capacity to heal, grow, and transform.

    There's no barrier in working creatively online. We engage in exercises like inner child work, parts work, drawings (where we observe together what comes up for you), and mindfulness practices that help reconnect you to your body and your emotions. As well as online worksheets so that your healing can continue outside of our sessions.

    I create a safe space, walking beside you through every part of your journey. If you want a therapist who works with you, not just for you, let's work together to find a way that works for you.

  • As an integrative psychotherapist, I draw from a range of modalities.

    Including:

    • Relational

    • Phenomenological

    • Psychodynamic

    • Humanistic

    • Existential

    • Psychoanalytic

    • Gestalt

    • Humanistic

    • Mindfulness / Guided Meditation and Imagery

    • Inner-Child Work

    • Attachment-based therapy

    • ACT

    • CBT

    • EFT

    • DBT

    • Trauma-focused therapy

    • Somatic Therapy

    • Creative Work

    • Dreamwork

    • Transactional Analysis

    • Existential

    • Jungian

    • Transpersonal

    • Spiritual

    • Developmental

    • Rewind Technique

    • IFS (Parts of self)

    I believe in working holistically, considering all aspects of who you are and how you experience the world and adapting our work to suit your unique needs.

  • Like many of you, I’ve faced my own struggles. I know what it’s like to feel lost, looking for answers and support in a space that doesn’t always feel right. Some of my experiences with therapy were deeply healing, while others left me empty—either because the therapist was too directive, taking conversations in their own direction or agenda, or too laid-back, giving me no feedback to help me move forward.

    I wanted something different. I realised what I was seeking was a more collaborative space, where you and I work together. Therapy, for me, is about balance. It’s about providing you with tools, analysis, feedback, and guidance, but also making sure your voice is at the centre of the process. I’m not here to dominate the session or be a blank slate. Instead, I’m here to connect with you, human to human, and create a space where you feel truly supported and heard on your path towards healing.

    Having tried different types of therapy myself—like gestalt, person-centred, psychodynamic, CBT, and more—I understand firsthand how important it is to find the right approach. My own journey inspired me to get training in these methods, so that I could combine my lived experience with professional expertise and offer something uniquely personalised to each person I work with. Along the way, I also volunteered with organisations which deepened my commitment to helping others.

    I'm a therapist who not only listens but understands, where your needs come first and where you feel empowered to grow. Together, we can create the change you’re seeking.

  • For me, relaxation is all about finding simple moments of calm. My cat is one of my greatest sources of comfort—there’s something incredibly soothing about the way she chooses to cuddle me. You might even spot her in the background sometimes, but don’t worry—she respects the confidentiality of our sessions! Her presence helps me slow down and unwind.

    I also love being in nature, walking by the sea, listening to the waves. Natural sounds bring me a deep sense of peace. Another favourite way to unwind is playing some of my favourite music on the keyboard, it’s a creative outlet that always leaves me feeling relaxed and grounded.

    • BA (Hons) in Counselling

    • FdSc in Counselling

    • Family & Relationship Counselling & Psychotherapy

    • Specialised Bereavement, Loss & Grief Practitioner

    • Trauma & Resilience Psychotherapy

    • Suicide and Self-harm Practitioner

    • Foundation for Infant & Baby Loss Practitioner

    • ESDAS two-day training: Domestic Abuse Awareness

    • Attachment 

    • Parts Work & IFS

    • Root Cause Therapy

    • Schema Therapy

    • Inner Child

    • Reparenting

    • Anxiety & Stress

    • Mood disorders

    • Divorce, Separation & Break-ups

    • Childhood Abuse

    • PTSD & CPTSD

    • Self-esteem, Self-love & Motivation

    • Rehealing the Nervous System 

    • Neurodevelopmental conditions (incl. ADHD, ASD & OCD)

    • Chronic Pain & Disability - Incl. Neurological disorders (e.g. FND, migraines, Chronic Fatigue) and physical health conditions (e.g. infertility, PCOS, and arthritis)

    • Anger Management 

    • Attachment, Co-dependency & Boundaries 

    • Adult & Child Psychology

    • Transactional Analysis

    • Gestalt & Creative Work

    • Psychoanalysis / Psychodynamic 

    • SWL Suicide prevention training – safeTALK 

    • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    • Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Self-care’

    • The Mix Young People and Children Counselling Training Course

    • Cruse Assessment Training

    • Safeguarding Adults & Children

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Life after Suicide’

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Sudden and Traumatic Death’

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Death of a Child of any Age’

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Trauma Awareness’

    • Cruse Bereavement Care ‘Ongoing Telephone Support’

    • How to do counselling online: a coronavirus primer

    • Cruse Bereavement Support ‘Safeguarding’

    • The Mix Training: I have participated in the Digital Connector Training Course which involved safeguarding, risk assessments for suicidal intent and runaway training for abuse and the abuse of a child.

  • Top Specialties

    • Relationships, Attachment, Communication, Boundaries & Co-dependency

    • Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADD, ADHD, OCD

    • Chronic Pain & Disability (Incl. Migraines, Fatigue, FMD, FND and Physical)

    • Bereavement, Loss and Grief (Incl. Complicated & Anticipatory grief, Miscarriages & Baby Loss)

    • Anxiety, Depression, Anger & Stress

    • Coping Skills

    • Trauma, PTSD & CPTSD (incl. nightmares)

    • Forgiveness (Self and Others)

    • Divorce, Separation, Break-ups and Infidelity

    Expertise

    • Abuse

    • Childhood Abuse and Neglect

    • Eating Disorders

    • Family Conflict

    • Self-love

    • Hoarding

    • Forgiveness

    • Bullying

    • Mood Dysregulation

    • Body Image

    • Cancer

    • Isolation

    • Jealousy

    • Life purpose

    • Existential Crisis

    • Emptiness

    • Self-esteem

    • Abandonment

    • Shame & Guilt

    • Marital and Premarital

    • Personal development

    • Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum

    • Self-Esteem

    • Work-related stress

    • Motivation

    • Career difficulties

    • Mood disorders

    • Coping with life changes

    • Compassion fatigue

    • Self-Harming

    • Suicidal Ideation

    • Sexual Abuse

    • Women's Issues

    • Self-identity

    • LGBT

    • Separation Anxiety

    • Control Issues

    • Gender identity

    • Suicidal ideation

Together we can find a way forward