Melanie Withers
About me
During the current COVID-19 service I have moved all my practice online and as an experienced video-calling and online therapist am happy to help using Zoom Skype, WhatsApp or any of the other platforms.
“This member has completed UKCP Covid-19 Online Working Guidance.”
Deciding to come to therapy or couple counselling can be a daunting experience especially when feeling confused, depressed, anxious or upset. However the experience of talking to an approachable professional can often be a real relief.
My aim as a therapist is to provide time and space for those wanting to explore their difficulties within the setting of a therapeutic relationship. By processing painful or traumatic experiences, looking at relationship dynamics, addressing unconscious or limiting aspects of behaviour, potential new ways of coping with life's issues can often be found and concerns resolved
I have been working as a therapist for over 30 years. Initially trained in psychodynamic counselling, I am also a qualified clinical supervisor, systemic couple therapist, CBT and psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
I am an experienced individual and couples counsellor as well as offering clinical supervision, training and consultancy. I completed a training in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) and in Online Therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BA Hons (University of Bristol)
- PGCE (University of Sussex)
- RSA Cert Counselling Skills (Northbrook College)
- PG Diploma in Counselling (University of Brighton)
- MA Counselling Psychology (University of Brighton and Sussex)
- MA Clinical Supervision (University of Sussex)
- PG Cert Applied Systemic Theory (UEL and Tavistock Clinic)
- Member On-line Therapy Institute
- PG Cert CBT (Westminster Pastoral Foundation)
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Guild of Psychotherapists)
- Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (Anna Freud centre).
I have worked in many different settings over the years I have been in practice including educational, NHS and charitable agencies. I was for many years the Head of Student Counselling at the University of Sussex and course convenor of the PG Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling there at the University, have worked at the University of Westminster on the Mind-Body programme and most recently was part of the Supervision Masters teaching team at the University of Surrey. I continue with a small teaching role at the University of Brighton.
Member organisations
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
UK Council for Psychotherapy
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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.
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Online Therapy
Therapies offered
Availability
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Flexible throughout the week including evenings.
Further information
As a qualified teacher and experienced trainer, university lecturer and consultant, I am also interested in management and organisational dynamics.
I am the founder and Clinical Director of the Rock Clinic, a charity providing counselling and psychotherapy in Brighton for over 31 years, I am experienced and well-placed to advise on similar projects.
I took early retirement as Head of the University of Sussex Counselling service which additionally has given me the experience of working to provide therapy within the organisational framework of a large institution.
My supervision and consultancy work sits alongside my clinical casework with individual clients and couples.
