Melanie McQuade
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, my name is Melanie, and I am based in County Durham. Thank you for your interest in reading my profile. If you're looking for support during challenging times, I would like to introduce myself as an experienced and empathetic counsellor specialising in helping you achieve positive changes and a brighter future.
I have been providing therapy for over 11 years, helping numerous individuals navigate through their difficulties and discover their inner strength. I am a registered MBACP experienced counsellor specialising in person-centred therapy. My educational background includes a Foundation Degree in Counselling from Sunderland University, and I consistently attend regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions and training days to ensure my practice remains up to date.
Being genuinely motivated to help others, I always ensure my clients are comfortable and at ease, allowing them to freely explore difficulties.
Each client is unique, and I work with you to make sure I tailor my approach to your specific needs. I believe in the power of building a strong therapeutic relationship based on empathy and trust.
Throughout my career, I am proud I have successfully helped clients overcome anxiety, social anxiety and stress, cope with bereavement and loss, navigate family dynamics and relationship issues, boost self-esteem and confidence, tackle work-related challenges, and manage low mood and depression. My goal is to empower clients by providing them with strategies and tools to break down their struggles into manageable steps, ultimately leading to positive changes in their lives.
I maintain the highest standards of care by engaging in regular supervision sessions, ensuring ethical and effective practice. In each counselling session, I am committed to creating a supportive and optimistic environment, leaving my clients feeling heard, understood, and focused on their personal growth.
While person-centred therapy is my primary approach, I also incorporate other therapeutic models when appropriate, offering a well-rounded and comprehensive counselling experience. The gratitude expressed through client testimonials and reviews is a testament to the positive impact I have made in their lives.
When you choose me as your counsellor, you can expect a professional, caring, and trustworthy therapeutic relationship. I pride myself on being approachable, reliable, and consistent in providing the support you need. To begin your journey towards positive change, I offer a free 15-minute telephone call for introductions and to help you determine if you would like to arrange an initial session.
I offer face-to-face, virtual and telephone appointments, and I can be flexible with appointment times to accommodate your work, family, or personal commitments.
All inquiries are treated with the utmost confidentiality, and I will promptly respond to your needs. As a registered member of the BACP, I strictly adhere to their ethical framework and guidelines.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications and training
- Foundation Degree in Counselling - 2011-2013 - Sunderland University
- Since qualifying I attend regular CPD and training days to ensure my practice is up to date.
- I have regular supervision to ensure I am working ethically and effective.
Despite working privately, I have also worked in a number of voluntary positions
including:
- Place2be (working with primary school children)
- Shotton Hall Academy (working with young people)
- Washington Mind (working with adults)
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
Fees
£45.00 - £55.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Initial assessment (to gather background information) lasts for 50 minutes at the cost of £40.
Individual sessions last 50 minutes at the cost of £45
Couples sessions last 50-60 mins £55
Fee payable at the beginning of each session.
When I work
I have appointment slots available throughout every Monday. In addition to this I am able to offer early evening appointments to accommodate working/school hours on various weekdays too.
