Melanie Vallance
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Welcome,
Something about me
As a therapist, I firmly believe in the unique and special connection that forms between my clients and me. Ensuring a safe and productive therapeutic alliance during our sessions is of paramount importance to me. My primary aim is to guide you on your path toward self-healing and personal growth through our work together. When you select me as your counsellor, you are entrusting me with your most intimate thoughts and emotions. I deeply respect and honour this trust by adhering to ethical and legal standards while staying within the bounds of my professional expertise. I recognise the vulnerability and bravery it can take to talk to a mental health professional, and I am focused on offering an environment that is safe, nurturing, non-judgmental and empowering.
Something about how
The way I work is primarily through Person-centred talking therapy, which means listening to your individual needs, wants and deserves. There are times when I will draw on Gestalt, Transactional analysis and creative methods, too. My role isn’t to tell you what to do or give you solutions, what we CAN do is work collaboratively to get an understanding of how you relate to people, where your thought patterns come from and what makes you YOU.
Something about why
You might have a specific reason for seeking professional help for your mental health, such as dealing with bereavement, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, eating disorders, recurring unhealthy behaviours, challenging thought patterns, or navigating through relationship breakdowns. Whatever your situation, it's perfectly okay to seek assistance in understanding and managing it. You don't have to reach a crisis point to seek support; sometimes, all we need is a helping hand to assemble the pieces of our metaphorical puzzle and gain a clearer understanding of ourselves.
Something about where
I run my practice from my home in Whitchurch, Aylesbury. I have created a therapeutic space that I believe to be warm and nurturing. Please be aware that pets live in my house so if you have any allergies then you may want to take that into consideration. There is plenty of parking available, and the village is on the Arriva X60 Milton Keynes- Aylesbury bus route.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Working towards a Masters in Autism & related neurodevelopmental conditions
- Higher Education diploma (inc' Challenging ideas in mental health, Death and dying, working with children and families)
- Fdn degree in Counselling
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Diploma in Counselling studies
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling skills
- Secondary school Nurture group practitioner
- Creative youth wellbeing & mindfulness coach
Private Practice
- Running own Private practice since 2019
- Trauma-informed
- Neurodivergent centred
- Gender Sexuality Relationship Diverse (GSRD) Affirming
Experience in addition to private practice
- Speaking to businesses about Neurodivergence
- Researching the impact of Autistic masking in the counselling space
- Working therapeutically with young people (11-18) in a school setting
- Lead Counsellor in a Male Prison
- Counselling young people in local authority care
- Mentor to student counsellors
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial in-person or online session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£50 per 50-minute session
Sessions can be paid for in cash or bank transfer
Discounts can be offered to student counsellors and those receiving benefits; evidence will be required.
When I work
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Further information
Special interests-
In my practice, I hold a particular interest in supporting Neurodivergent clients, driven by both personal and professional experiences. I have provided therapeutic assistance to both young and adult clients who identify as Neurodivergent, encompassing a range of conditions such as Autism, ADHD (including its subcategories), Tourette's syndrome, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia. I am keenly aware of the mental health issues that can present with Neurodivergent individuals as they have often received the message of being ‘less than’. I endeavour to provide an environment whereby that person can be empowered and valued to live authentically.
I have experience working therapeutically with clients exploring their gender and sexuality. I have worked extensively with individuals and family members of the trans community. My goal for my clients is to provide them with a positive, welcoming, and non-judgmental counselling experience, where they feel comfortable unpacking their emotional thoughts and needs. I approach the counselling environment without any religious, cultural, or gender bias, ensuring an inclusive and unbiased space for all.
