Melanie Bain
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
An experienced counsellor, Melanie offers professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy to support people in relationship whether family members or partners as well as individuals. Melanie's diverse skill set allows her to create a significant impact in the lives of those she works with.
Melanie tailors her approach to meet your needs and preferences. Her goal being to help you increase self-awareness to identify hidden attitudes, traits, beliefs, or feelings that may be influencing your current situation and relationships. Exploring these insights and empowering you to challenge and change old, unhelpful patterns for a more fulfilling life.
Melanie offers a wealth of experience drawn from her extensive professional background and her own journey through therapy. From her work in health care, social care, and the criminal justice sectors. She has worked closely with organisations dedicated to rehabilitating individuals facing addiction and those with challenging criminal histories. Melanie has assisted children, young people, and their families navigate through various domestic and social challenges.
Training, qualifications & experience
- PGDip in Humanistic Counselling and Supervision
- Certificate in Couples Counselling
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Accredited Registrant with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
- Foundational Theraplay® Practitioner (Level 2 and MIM)
Melanie is an accredited registrant with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and work to and alongside their professional and ethical standards and undertakes regular supervision and ongoing professional development to ensure a high standard of work.
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 National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Within my counselling profession, I have worked with adults and young people, families and couples 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 the 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.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- Relationship or Couples sessions are based on a sliding scale between £85 - 95 per session depending on your financial status.
- Individual sessions are based on a sliding scale between £60 - £75 per session depending on your financial status or where we meet for sessions.
- An Initial Consultation is a fixed fee of £70
- Reduced rates of £50 (online), £55 in-person for those on minimum wage or less.
For those who have health care cover, I am recognised by Allianz Partners, Aviva and Vitality Health Insurers.
When I work
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Further information
What people say about Melanie:
Mel helped me and my partner to navigate through a difficult period. She can be direct and at times challenging but we always felt taken care of and understood. Her insights were incredibly beneficial in bringing us closer together. M and D
I am grateful for Mel's guidance and support during a difficult time in my life. I have tried other therapists but never really clicked with them. Mel instantly seemed to know how to get me. Mark
Mel is funny, engaging and sensitive to my moods and struggles. She noticed aspects of myself that I hadn’t noticed before and these insights have helped me challenge and change long-held beliefs about myself. Devi
What people bring. Case studies:
Jason wanted the rollercoaster of emotions to stop. He struggled with unwanted emotions and noticed the impact this was having on his marriage and relationships. He wanted to find the underlying context of his problems and gain more awareness and understanding.
Hayley was in their second year at University but struggling to focus on their studies and was withdrawing from people and becoming isolated. They had lost their motivation for most things and felt increasingly overwhelmed and depressed with existing. They wanted to get better, but felt at a loss as to how.
Kamal and his wife were at a point of wanting to separate due to frequent arguments and frustrations within the relationship. They wanted to work on improving things between them but often ended up in a conflict instead so they sought out couples therapy as they wanted a third party to help.
