Melissa Purnell

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Supervisor • she/her
MA, MBACP, QTS, BSc (Hons) GMBPsS. Psychodynamic Counsellor

Supervision details

Psychodynamic Clinical Supervision 

I offer professional, reflective and supportive supervision for therapists and practitioners at different stages of their clinical development. My approach is grounded in psychodynamic thinking and informed by the Seven-Eyed Model of supervision.

I see supervision as a space to step back from the demands of clinical practice, think carefully about the work and develop a deeper understanding of what may be taking place within the therapeutic relationship. Alongside exploring the client’s experience and clinical material, we can consider your own responses, the dynamics within the therapeutic relationship, and the wider context in which the work takes place.

The Seven-Eyed Model provides a helpful framework for exploring the different aspects of the therapeutic process, including the client, therapist, relationship and the supervisory relationship itself. I use this framework flexibly, allowing the supervision to respond to what feels most important in the work being brought.

I aim to provide a supervision space that is thoughtful, collaborative and psychologically safe, where you can explore complexity, uncertainty and challenges in your practice without judgement. I believe that reflective supervision supports both effective clinical practice and continued professional development, helping practitioners to develop greater awareness, confidence and depth in their work.

Whether you are newly qualified, building your practice or an experienced practitioner seeking ongoing reflective supervision, I offer a space to think, reflect and develop your therapeutic practice with care and curiosity.

Educational and Health Care Supervision

I offer reflective supervision for school staff and social workers, who are working with complex cases such as Looked After Children, SEN, and Mental Health needs. Educational supervision provides additional support to reflect upon the dynamics of their workload to ensure they are working efficiently by understanding the conscious and unconscious needs of the children/ families they support. Depending on your caseload, It is suggested we meet for one hour a month as a minimum. The case and direction of the discussion are chosen by the supervisee, who is then guided to examine their thoughts and feelings about the case and use this awareness to serve the client better. This service can be offered online using the Zoom platform or face-to-face sessions in my consultancy office. 

Parent Support/ Supervision

Sometimes, children choose not to engage in one-to-one counselling themselves, and they feel helpless, and unsure where to turn. It may be that you are looking for help on how to support your child through a turbulent period or for either ongoing support as a parent or just a one-off consultation for advice on a particular difficulty. I can provide you with a space to reflect on your circumstances and support you to make positive changes in your relationship with your children. 

Sessions and fees

60-minute supervision session — £80

90-minute supervision session — £100

Sessions are available on a regular basis or as occasional reflective supervision, depending on your needs. 

Trainee students can get in contact regarding reduce fee during their training, 

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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220-224 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2

Key details

The counselling space is calm and sensory-aware space, with soft lighting, minimal noise, and a consistent layout. The practice is supportive of neurodivergent clients and provides a safe, respectful therapeutic experience. The room has air conditioning.

Online platforms

Zoom

Type of session

In person
Online

Psychodynamic Clinical Supervision  I offer professional, reflective and supportive supervision for therapists and practitioners at different stages of their clinical development.

Melissa Purnell
Melissa Purnell