Melisa Adams
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About me
You might look as though you are coping while, inside, you feel anxious, overwhelmed or completely worn out. Perhaps you keep finding yourself in the same patterns, your confidence has disappeared, a relationship is struggling or something from the past is still affecting you. You may be dealing with an addiction or trying to understand how ADHD or another form of neurodivergence affects the way you experience everyday life.
Whatever has brought you here, you don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what you need. That is something we can work out together.
I’m friendly, caring and down to earth. People often worry that therapy will feel clinical or awkward, or that they will be judged. That isn’t how I work. You can talk to me about the things that feel difficult, uncomfortable or embarrassing to say out loud.
My style is active, practical and collaborative. I won’t just sit and nod while you try to work everything out alone. I will listen carefully, ask questions, share my professional understanding and help you make sense of what is happening. When useful, I will offer practical tools and ideas that you can try between sessions.
Our brains learn ways to protect us, particularly during stressful, frightening or painful experiences. Sometimes these responses carry on long after they are needed. This can leave us feeling anxious, reacting in ways we don’t understand or repeating patterns we desperately want to change. This isn’t about blaming you or asking what is wrong with you. It is about understanding what has happened, what your brain and body have learned and what we can begin to change.
I am an integrative psychotherapist and qualified EMDR practitioner, so I don’t expect you to fit into one particular type of therapy. I adapt the way I work around your needs, communication style and goals. I also offer neurodivergent-affirming therapy for people with ADHD, autism and other forms of neurodivergence.
I work with individuals, couples and families experiencing anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, low self-confidence, family conflict, bereavement and addictive behaviours. My experience with addiction includes gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography, spending, internet use and gaming.
I also support people who feel stuck, burnt out or misunderstood, including those who may not have a diagnosis but know that something in their life needs to change. I provide an inclusive service and welcome people from GSRD and LGBTQIA+ communities.
I have a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and am a Senior Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Although my qualifications and experience are important, I also believe therapy needs to feel like a conversation with a real person, someone professional, but human and easy to talk to.
We are often reminded to look after our physical health, but our emotional wellbeing deserves the same care. Stress, anxiety and trauma can affect our sleep, concentration, relationships and how we feel physically. Understanding that connection can be an important part of feeling more in control.
My aim is to help you understand yourself, develop healthier ways of coping and eventually become your own therapist. Life is short, and you do not have to spend it blaming yourself or feeling trapped in the same patterns.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation. It is an opportunity to tell me briefly what is happening, ask questions and get a sense of whether I feel like the right therapist for you. There is no pressure to commit to therapy during that conversation.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a Senior Accredited psychotherapist and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I hold a Master’s degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and an honours degree in Psychology.
I have more than 20 years experience across mental health, social care and therapeutic services. During that time, I have worked with people from many different backgrounds and supported a wide range of difficulties, including trauma, anxiety, addiction, relationship problems and neurodivergence. This experience helps me look beyond a diagnosis or presenting problem and understand the person as a whole.
I am qualified to work therapeutically with individuals, couples and families. I support couples and families with communication difficulties, conflict, disconnection, trust, repeated relationship patterns and the impact of life changes. I remain balanced and curious, helping each person feel heard while we explore what is happening between them and what could begin to change.
I am also a qualified EMDR practitioner and use an integrative, trauma-informed approach. This means I can draw on different ways of working rather than expecting every client to fit the same model. I adapt therapy around the individual, couple or family, their goals and the way they communicate and process their experiences.
I am a qualified clinical supervisor and hold an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision. Using the Seven-Eyed Model, I offer thoughtful, supportive and appropriately challenging supervision to trainee, newly qualified and experienced counsellors and psychotherapists. I can also support supervisees in reflecting on individual, couples and family work, where this is within our respective areas of competence.
My supervision style reflects the way I work with clients: warm, honest, practical and collaborative. I aim to provide a space where supervisees can speak openly about their work, explore uncertainty without feeling judged and continue developing their confidence, ethical awareness and professional identity.
I undertake regular supervision and continuing professional development to keep my knowledge and practice current. Whether you are looking for individual therapy, couples or family therapy, EMDR or clinical supervision, you are welcome to contact me for an informal conversation about what you need and whether I may be the right person to support you.
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.
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
Care-experienced young people and adults, including looked-after children aged 13 and over; foster carers and adoptive families.
individuals affected by domestic abuse and coercive control.
Parenting challenges, family separation and difficulties within family relationships.
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Individual therapy: £75 for a 50-minute session
Couples and family therapy: £90 for a 60-minute session
EMDR therapy: £90 for a 60-minute session
Clinical supervision: £95 for a 90-minute session
I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation, giving you an opportunity to tell me briefly what you are looking for, ask questions and decide whether I may be the right therapist for you. There is no obligation to book a full session.
A limited number of reduced-fee appointments may be available. Please contact me to enquire.
When I work
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