Mel Heap
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am an experienced, qualified Psychotherapist in private practice. I specialise in autism and neurodiversity. I offer weekly one to one sessions with adults online via Zoom. My approach is neuroaffirming and informed by extensive training and clinical work with the neurodistinct community (i.e. autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, etc), as well as my own lived experience of autism and ADHD from all perspectives. I do not adopt a deficit based approach as this does not align with the needs and priorities of the neurodistinct community.
I work with people who self identify as neurodistinct, are questioning, or have a clinical diagnosis and wish to explore this further. I also work with neurotypical adults who have a close family member who is or may be neurodistinct, as well as adults where the whole family are neurodistinct with their own unique profiles.
I am a professional member of the Foundation for Psychotherapists and Counsellors (FPC) and a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
If you want to get in touch, just send me an email or leave me an answer phone message, whatever you prefer. I will contact you to arrange an initial session.
At the initial appointment we will have 50 minutes to talk things through together and explore whether psychotherapy with me feels right for you.
Once we have agreed to work together, we can decide on a convenient regular time to meet for ongoing, weekly sessions. I usually work long term, but can sometimes offer short term consultations.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training/Qualifications:
Level 7 training in autism theory and practice - ongoing
4 year Level 7 advanced clinical training in Psychodnamic Psychotherapy:
- Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (BPC and WPF accredited)
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.(BACP and WPF accredited)
CIPD Postgraduate Management Foundation Programme, UWE, Bristol
Experience:
- Private practice psychotherapist specialising in autism and neurodiversity
- Discussion group facilitator on autism and neurodiversity in therapeutic practice for psychotherapists and psychoanalysts.
- Senior Psychodynamic Counsellor, Intake Assessor and lead for all therapists and trainees working for South West based Psychodynamic Counselling Agency
- Psychotherapist for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling Agency at various South West locations.
- Personal Tutor for Diploma students at South West based Counselling Agency.
- College Counsellor for Student Counselling Service.
- Experienced in Management, Human Resources, Finance and Contracts.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Additional information
Please call or e-mail to discuss fees and availability for an initial session.
When I work
Monday to Thursday daytime hours. No evenings or weekends.
Further information
I accept referrals from GPs, health visitors, charities, midwives and employers.
I have full professional indemnity insurance.
