Barbara Mella

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Pronoun: she
MSc Integrative Psychotherapy, Adv Dip, UKCP Registered
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

London SE5 & Lyme Regis DT7
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hello. My name is Barbara.

I am a psychotherapist and counsellor working with adults and children.

I am also a Mindfulness teacher, a Breath Coach and a Yoga teacher.

My experience of these practices has given me a positive belief that we all have the potential to change, to grow and to find balance and joy in our lives. 

My intention is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for you to discuss and explore whatever you might want to bring. I offer a kind, compassionate and understanding relationship so that you can feel comfortable to be who you are and express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement and criticism.

​We all go through times in our lives when we experience challenges which can be testing and have a profound effect on us and our relationships. My clients struggle with issues including anxiety, ADHD, depression, relationship and family difficulties, fertility, parenting, low self-esteem, anger management, life changes and transitions, redundancy and career choices, bereavement, abuse, personal development and so on.

Psychotherapy is a a path of self-discovery which involves taking time and space to slow down and explore, with honesty and courage, who you are, as yourself and in the world with others; how you arrived at the present moment and to realise how you are stuck in habitual and unhelpful ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Then, through awareness and compassion, you can take action towards positive change to manifest what you want for now and for the future.

Counselling offers you a chance to talk and work through feelings and situations, whether you want to bring specific issues - relationships, dilemmas, doubts, commitment, existential questions (Who am I? What am I doing? What's the purpose of my life?) - or a simple curiosity to know yourself more. It is a challenging, but always rewarding personal journey towards increased self-awareness, acceptance and contentment.

I have experience of working with clients in different settings: students within a University Counselling Service, where I've also run Stress & Anxiety Management, and Procrastination workshops; teenagers at a Southwark Community Centre; in-patients, out-patients and relatives at a large hospital in South-East London; adults in private practice; students of Mindfulness; tenants for a large of Housing Association in the South West.

While still living in London, I set up a network of alternative therapists and midwives (Nest London)  who specialise in working with women (and men) dealing with issues regarding fertility, pregnancy and parenthood. I was the psychotherapist in the group and counselled women and men at any stage of the emotional roller-coaster on their often difficult journey to becoming a parent and beyond. Sadly, NEST is no longer available.

Psychotherapy is my life’s work and I'm very passionate about what it can offer. I feel privileged to be allowed into my clients' worlds while accompanying them on their own journeys. I never fail to be touched and changed by these encounters. I work integratively so I will incorporate Breathwork, Mindful and Yoga philosophy if appropriate into my practice. 

I offer psychotherapy and counselling sessions in person, on the phone and online.

I work with adults and children and can offer Couple Counselling.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a fully qualified psychotherapist, having completed five years of formal training first at the Minster Centre and then at The Metanoia Institute in West London - both part of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Such trainings led first to a Certificate, then a Diploma and finally a Master in Integrative Psychotherapy.

I practice within the BACP code of conduct.

I regularly dedicate time to further personal and professional development attending CPD courses and workshops. Some of the trainings I have completed over the years are:

 working with children and adolescents at the Gestalt Centre; Filial Therapy (working with parents and children) at IATE;  CBT at the Awareness Centre; , Anger Management, etc...

In 2020, I completed a Post Graduate training in Working with Young People and Adolescents at the University of South Wales.

I am currently training to become a Supervisor at the Awareness Centre in Clapham. 

I am also a qualified Yoga teacher, and a Breathwork and Mindfulness coach.

Because of my various experiences and trainings, I have a wide range of frameworks which I can apply when working with clients so that I can adapt my approach to their personal needs. 

Since starting my work as a psychotherapist, I have worked in a variety of different settings - with students at Goldsmiths University, with patients and families at Kings College Hospital, with Victim Support and with young people at a primary and a secondary school. 

I am currently working in private practice and for Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support  (Charity). 

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

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.

UKCP
UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.

As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.

UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

UK Council for Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

UK Council for Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

I have experience of and interest in working with women who go through the roller-coaster of pregnancy and motherhood as a time of major changes. Many women are aware of post-natal depression but not of pre-natal depression and when they start feeling low, suicidal, paranoid, afraid, etc both before and after the birth of their children they often just pretend they are ok and soldier on keeping all their awful feelings locked inside until they can't cope anymore. I invite mothers to be and new mothers who are experiencing any difficulties to seek help as soon as possible.

Fees

£50.00 - £65.00

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed
  • Refugees

Additional information

One-to-One Psychotherapy - some concessions available

£50-55 Online Counselling (Adults Only)

£55 (Axminster)

£65 (London)


Sessions last 50 minutes.


When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I have available times on most days.

London, England, SE5

Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families

Additional languages

Italian

Italian

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Barbara Mella
Barbara Mella