Ruth Melson
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am an integrative counsellor working to support a range of mental health needs. I have particular experience of working with neurodivergent people; those who are exploring a diagnosis or have a sense of experiencing the world and relationships differently from others around them.
I specialise in communication, social interaction and sensory differences and the related mental health challenges that can be experienced alongside this. I also work to support access to counselling for people with specific speech, language and communication needs.
I work with parents of children and young people who have been or are still in the mental health system (CAMHS), accessing specialist education and the trauma that can be experienced by parents, carers and family members throughout this process.
As an integrative counsellor I am able to offer a range of approaches and techniques to support a client's individual needs and circumstances, with compassion, empathy, collaboration and respect at the core of my practice.
I aim to provide a safe and non-judgemental space to support and empower clients to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Areas I work with include:
- Anxiety
- Depression and low mood
- Isolation and loneliness
- Neurodiversity
- Identity
- Communication needs/differences
- Relationship issues
- Parenting
- Stress
- Low self-esteem
Training, qualifications & experience
I have worked in mental health services with a diverse range of young people and adults for the past 11 years, working across special educational settings, in-patient mental health and specialist counselling services for autistic adults (SAANS).
I am also an experienced speech and language therapist and specialise in supporting those with communication needs and differences to access counselling in a meaningful way. I feel strongly that talking therapies should be accessible to all, no matter how thoughts, feelings and experiences are communicated.
Qualifications:
- Professional Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (accredited by the National Counselling Society)
- Certificate in Foundations of Counselling (accredited by the National Counselling Society)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Autism (Hallam University)
- MMedSci Clinical Communication Studies (Clinical qualification in Speech and Language Therapy, The University of Sheffield)
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I work to support client's with a speech, language and communication need to access counselling.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a free 20 minute initial telephone consultation.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
I cannot always answer my phone, so please leave a voicemail or text me and I will try to get back to you as quickly as possible.
Further information
How to contact me:
I offer a free 20 minute telephone consultation. This is an opportunity for you to find out more about how I work and whether I am the right therapist for you. We can also discuss any reasonable adjustments that you require and adaptations that can be made to make the session accessible and comfortable for you. If you find the phone difficult, you can send me an email or contact me via text.
Where and when am I available:
I currently offer sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays in a therapy space in the S10 area of Sheffield. There is wheelchair access if required and free parking is onsite. The space is also close to bus and tram stops.
What will an initial session look like:
An initial session provides an opportunity for us to see how we may work together and for you to share what has brought you to therapy. We will also discuss practical issues such as confidentiality and the counselling agreement.
Sessions are 50 minute long and I offer both short and longer term therapy. We can discuss how frequently you would like to attend therapy to best suit your needs.
Reasonable adjustments may include:
- Sensory needs/differences
- Communication needs/differences
- Physical needs/differences
I can provide the following visual resources:
- Easy Read information
- Images of the therapy space, including the car park
- Map / Directions
- What to expect from a first therapy session
