About me
Have you spent so much time looking after others that your own needs have quietly slipped to the bottom of the list? Perhaps you're an unpaid carer? Or someone who has spent years looking after family, friends or colleagues.
You may be used to managing on your own, but finding that things have become harder to cope with.
I'm Mel, a BACP-registered integrative counsellor based in Worthing. I offer face-to-face counselling for adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including grief, relationship problems, anxiety, depression, workplace stress and dealing with times of change or uncertainty.
A significant part of my experience has been supporting unpaid carers. I understand that caring can affect much more than your time and energy. It can influence your confidence, relationships, sense of identity and ability to recognise what you need for yourself.
You don't have to be a carer to come to counselling, and you don't need to wait until things feel unbearable before asking for help.
My approach is warm, honest and collaborative. I believe counselling works best when we can build a genuine working relationship, where you feel heard, respected and able to talk openly about what is happening in your life.
Together, we can explore what has brought you to counselling, make sense of your experiences and consider what might help. I won't tell you what to do or offer easy answers, but I will work alongside you with curiosity, care and respect.
I offer a free, face-to-face 30-minute consultation before regular sessions begin. This gives us an opportunity to talk about how I might be able to help and support you. And it gives you a chance to ask questions about counselling and to get a sense of whether I might be the right counsellor for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I'm a BACP-registered integrative counsellor with over 20 years' experience supporting people through times of difficulty, change and uncertainty.
My professional and voluntary experience has given me a broad understanding of the pressures people can face at work, at home and within their relationships, and has helped shape the way I work with clients today.
For many years, before establishing my private practice, I worked in communications, HR, learning and development within a large public sector organisation. Alongside this, I trained as a counsellor and volunteered for many years as a counsellor with a carers' charity.
My counselling experience includes working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, workplace stress, bullying, discrimination and significant life changes. I also have particular experience supporting unpaid carers, including people caring for partners, parents, children, other family members and friends.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on different counselling approaches while keeping our relationship at the heart of the work. I believe that no single approach can fully explain what it means to be human. Rather than trying to fit you into a particular 'model', I will work with you to explore your experiences, your relationships and the patterns that may be influencing your life.
I am committed to ongoing professional development, regular supervision and working within the ethical framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Counselling qualifications
- Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, CPCAB, 2005
- Certificate in Counselling Theory, Central School for Counselling Training, 2002
- Certificate in Counselling Skills, Central School for Counselling Training, 2001
- Diploma in Integrative Supervision of Individuals and Groups, The Grove, 2024 (for supervision of other counsellors)
Professional experience and additional qualifications
Alongside my counselling training and practice, I have extensive professional experience in communications, HR, learning and development within a large public sector organisation. I hold a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management (2019), a CIPR Level 7 Internal Communication Diploma (2010) and a Certificate in Training Practice from the Institute of Personnel and Development (2000).
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Anticipatory grief
Feeling sad or hopeless
Putting everyone else’s needs before your own
Feeling overwhelmed
Lacking a sense of purpose
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £60.00
Additional information
Initial Assessment (30 mins) – free of charge
Individuals counselling – £60 for 50 minutes
I offer a concessionary rate for student counsellors: £40 for 50 minutes
Further information
I offer a free, face-to-face 30-minute consultation before we begin regular counselling. This is an opportunity to talk about what's brought you to counselling, what you would like help with and any questions you may have about the process.
You don't need to have everything worked out before you come. We can take some time to consider whether counselling feels right for you and whether I am the right person to work with you.
My sessions are 50 minutes and take place in person in Worthing.
I offer both short-term and longer-term counselling, depending on your circumstances, needs and what we agree together.
I also work with counselling students who are looking for support alongside their training and placement experience. My background in learning and development, combined with my experience as a counsellor and supervisor, gives me a particular understanding of the challenges of learning to become a counsellor while developing your own way of working.
Whether you're finding a particular part of your training difficult, thinking through your placement experience or simply need some space to reflect on what you're learning, we can explore this together in a way that supports both your development and your wellbeing.
If you're looking for a counsellor in Worthing and would like to find out more, you're welcome to get in touch.
