Melanie Bain

Each of us is affected in different ways and at different levels by life.  All of us at times will feel in some way or another pushed into challenging psychological territories, within ourselves and our relationships at both a personal and/or professional level. This can be a time of distress and upheaval with many uncertainties about what the future holds.

The aim of my work is to enable you to increase self-awareness and notice possible hidden attitudes, feelings or behaviours that you may have in relation to your current situation or problem. When we become more aware of ourselves then there is the choice and possibility to challenge and change old unhelpful patterns.

My own therapeutic journey began when I was a child and now as an adult and therapist I have  and still take benefit from my own personal therapy. 

I have significant experience working alongside social care and am specialised in building a relationship and mediating families who are in crisis and trauma. Further to this I am also a Theraplay® practitioner in this role I bring parents and their children together at a time when behaviours and challenges seem out of control with the aim of achieving a naturally more regulated integrated system. I have many years personal practice of meditation using simple but anchoring techniques to help calm and focus the mind and regain an inner control so that I can be free to take on life challenges with less force or fear.

Within my counselling profession, I have worked with adults and young people who have faced difficulties from substance abuse, mental/physical/sexual abuse, self-esteem, depression and relationship issues. Prior to, during and after my training, I worked within the health, social and criminal justice sector.

What to expect from therapy?

If you are about to go to a counsellor for the first time you will be more at ease and get better results if you know what to expect.

In your first session, the therapist usually asks certain questions about you and your life. This information helps to make an initial assessment of your situation. The questions may be around these areas:

Why you sought therapy?

A particular issue probably led you to seek counselling. The counsellor has to understand your surface problem(s) before she can get to the deeper issues. Your personal history and current situation.

The counsellor may ask you a series of questions about your life.
For example, because family situations play an important role in who you are, she may ask about your family history and your current family situation.

Your current symptoms.
Other than knowing the reason you sought therapy, the therapist will attempt to find out if you’re suffering from any symptoms. The therapist will use this information to better understand your situation and experience.

What you can do
The counselling session is a team effort. If you don’t take an active part in the session, you won’t find the counselling experience valuable. Here are some things you can do to make your first session as successful as possible:

Be open
Therapists are trained to ask the right questions, but they are not mind readers. The therapist can do his job more effectively if you answer the questions openly and honestly.

Be prepared
Before you get to the session, know how to describe what the issue(s) are and to describe your feelings around this issue. If you are uncomfortable expressing this then one way to prepare is to write down the reasons you’re seeking help. Make a list and then read it out loud or bring this list with you and share it with your counsellor. Hearing yourself say it a few times will help you describe things more clearly to the therapist.

Ask questions
The more you understand the counselling experience or how counselling works, the more comfortable you’ll be. Ask questions about the therapy process, and ask the therapist to repeat anything you don’t understand. Be open and honest about your feelings.

A lot will be going through your head in this first session. Listen to your own reactions and feelings, and share them with the therapist. You’ll both learn from these insights.

Be sure to go to your first session with realistic expectations. Therapy is not a quick fix for your problem, rather it is a process. With some effort on your part and a strong relationship with your therapist, counselling can be helpful and can assist in resolving problems.

The session fee is based on a sliding scale between £60 - £70 per session depending on your financial status. 

A reduction of £5 (per session) can be offered for online sessions.

People who know Melanie say,

Melanie is an honest, committed and highly perceptive person, who is able to combine genuine empathy and a refreshingly direct approach with people. She connects with others with ease through her warmth and her great sense of humour, while also tuning in below the surface so that people feel truly seen and heard. She likes to learn new ways of developing her skills and understanding and has a passion for self development and to share her experience with others. I believe that Melanie offers the same qualities in her working life as she does in her personal life, as she is one of the most authentic people I know. Gaby Havard

Mel sees things... She is incredibly observant and sensitive (in the right way!) to what is going on, and that combined with her maturity, experience, knowledge and ability to articulate make her a first class counsellor. She's courageous, well organised, enthusiastic, generous and positive. Anthony Phelips