About me
I am an experienced psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapist and parent-infant psychotherapist, and registered member of the BACP and BPC. I work together with individuals to help them make sense of their current circumstances, relationships and experiences, which may be influenced by the past. I provide a supportive, non-judgmental and confidential space in which thoughts and feelings can be explored at the clients own pace with a view to fostering autonomy and change. I work on a one-to-one basis with both young people and adults, as well as with parents and their infants from a broad range of social and cultural backgrounds, and can offer both short and long-term therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
BSc (Hons) Psychology (BPS Approved), University of Reading;
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling/Psychotherapy (Distinction), University of Reading, 2006;
MA in Counselling (Distinction), University of Reading, 2008; Diploma in Parent-Infant Psychotherapy, OXPIP, 2017
My clinical experience started in 2003 whilst working for several years with mothers and infants in a research capacity focusing on maternal anxiety and depression, child development and mother-infant relationships at the Winnicott Research Unit, University of Reading. I went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling/Psychotherapy at Reading University followed by an MA. Following a 2-year infant observation with the Tavistock in 2009-11 I completed an Introduction to Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapy with the Anna Freud Centre (AFC) in 2014, before training as a Parent-Infant Psychotherapist with OXPIP in 2015.
Over the years I have practised within a low cost counselling service; a university counselling service; and in an anxiety clinic which incorporated running group work for adolescences with anxiety disorders; a London-based Charity and extensively within Early Years coordinating a Counselling and Postnatal Depression Service providing individual therapy and group work. I have worked privately in both the Reading area and London, and currently I have an established private practice in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire offering both Adult and Parent-Infant Psychotherapy. Alongside my private practice I work in London as a Perinatal/Parent-Infant Psychotherapist for an NHS Perinatal Mental Health Service providing both therapeutic work and consultancy services.
I am a registered member with the BACP, registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and a member of the Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapy Society (PPIPS). I adhere to the BPC and BACP code of ethics, attend regular clinical supervision and hold professional indemnity insurance.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Antenatal & postnatal period
Pregnancy & parenthood
Perinatal and Parent-Infant Psychotherapy
Disability
Identity
Loss
Therapies offered
Fees
Additional information
£60 - some concessions are available upon request depending on individual circumstances
When I work
Daytime and some evening appointments available.
Further information
My main practice is in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire near Reading within easy walking distance of the local station with links to both Reading, Didcot and Oxford.
To make an appointment or to simply have an exploratory chat, please call me on 07580075237, leaving a brief message along with your name and telephone number and I will be happy to return your call as soon as I can.
Alternatively, you may email me at
melanie.royal-lawson@thecounsellingservice.org.uk
