Dr Mel Maton

I am a qualified and approachable Chartered Counselling Psychologist providing integrative therapy.  I have over 20 years’ experience supporting people with their mental health and I am a registered member of the  BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), BPS  (British Psychological Society and HPCP (The Health and Care Professions Council).  I am currently offering therapy sessions both on-line sessions and in-person.

I work from an integrative perspective.  This means that I am trained in several counselling and psychological approaches.  The two approaches that underpin all my practice are relational psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).  These complementary approaches bring together psychological theory and research with therapeutic practice.  I am also trained in additional approaches (see below) which I can use if we feel they are appropriate for you.  People come to therapy for different reasons, have different goals and different needs.  I adapt my therapeutic style to ensure that every client has a tailored approach that works for them.

The support I offer is outlined below.  If you would like more details about my qualifications, professional memberships or experience, then please see the relevant sections underneath.

Your mental health

You may be seeking counselling for a specific issue such as stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or feeling sad.  These are all good reasons for seeking support.  Alternatively your reason might be more difficult to put into words, not everyone has an identifiable reason for seeking support. Many of my clients have sought therapy because they were struggling to find a sense of meaning or place in the world.  Whatever your difficulty, I offer my skills and experience to support you. I provide a confidential and non-judgmental space where your experiences, thoughts and feelings can be expressed and explored.

Here are some of the areas of mental health that I specialise in*:

stress | depression (including post-natal depression) | low self-esteem | all areas of anxiety | (including: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), health anxiety, social anxiety,  panic attacks, fears and phobias)| feeling sad | low self-confidence | suicidal thoughts | obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) | depersonalisation disorder (disassociation) | post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | trauma | abuse | self-harm | bereavement and loss | relationship difficulties | family issues | social media | addiction | managing identify around gender or neurodiversity.

*Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Please contact me if you do not see the problems you are experiencing on the list.

How will counselling help me?

We all experience difficulties throughout our lives. When these difficulties impact our quality of life and our wellbeing, it can be helpful to seek professional support.  Recognising that you are not okay and talking about your experiences can be an important step towards recovery.

Counselling provides a safe space to address these difficulties with a trained and experienced therapist.  My focus is on listening openly, without judgment, to whatever you bring to the sessions.  Together we will explore the challenges you are facing to improve your mental wellbeing.

What should I do next?

Give me a call, text or e-mail to discuss booking an initial session. 

Tel: 07423 037 942 or e-mail: mel@melmaton.co.uk

Brief Telephone Consultation: I understand that you might be nervous about coming to see a therapist for the first time, and that finding the right therapist for you is vital.  This is why I can offer a free brief telephone consultation (10-15 minutes) to those who would like it, for us to discuss how I may be able to help you and to ensure that we are well matched to move forward together. 

In-person sessions are in Penarth, Cardiff.  

What should I expect from the first session?

Our initial session will allow us to get to know each other a little and will give you the opportunity to check that I am the right therapist for you.  We will explore your reasons for seeking support and what you hope to get out of counselling.  We can begin to outline a plan for therapy and agree the areas to explore. If you have specific goals or changes in mind, we can prioritise these and consider manageable steps towards them.

If you are happy to work together we can arrange further sessions. You can either opt for an agreed number (usually between 8-20) or we can work in a more open ended way. The approach we take may depend on your reasons for coming to therapy and what you want to get out of it.

If for whatever reason you do not feel I am the right therapist for you, there is no obligation to continue.

If you are unsure of anything please just ask.

Additional areas I support are:

• Tokophobia
• Social media
• Depersonalisation disorder

I look forward to hearing from you,

Mel

My standard fee is £100 for a 50-minute session.  I charge £100-£110 for insurance companies (this is due to the extra paperwork involved).   I am able to offer a limited number of spaces at the reduced rate of £90.  Fees are payable in advance of each session. 

I offer both on-line and in-person sessions.   I am based in Cardiff and in-person appointments are held in Penarth, Cardiff.  I offer mostly on-line via a secure platform, as I find clients value the ease and flexibility of these sessions.

I typically see people weekly (although this is negotiable).  

If you would like to ask any questions before booking your first session, I am able to offer a free brief telephone consultation (10-15 minutes) to discuss how I may be able to help you and to ensure that we are well matched to move forward together.