About Melissa
Melissa Hepburn is a counsellor who supports people facing stress, anxiety, relationship problems, grief and trauma. She also helps those dealing with LGBT-related concerns, gender dysphoria, and the emotional impact of illness or chronic pain. She aims to make the first contact gentle and straightforward so people can feel safer talking about hard things.
She trained as an integrative therapist and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.
Background and approach
Early in her career she worked in a bereavement service and has experience supporting people after bereavement. That role involved working directly with individuals and relatives at difficult times. Her work also includes supporting people with post-traumatic stress, panic and anxiety, and patterns of obsessive thinking or compulsions.
She offers a calm, non-judgemental space and listens for the practical changes someone might want to make in day to day life. Empathy and an open mind are key parts of how she works. Melissa also supports people affected by sexual assault and abuse, addiction, and issues around guilt, shame and isolation.
She meets people where they are and focuses on achievable steps rather than abstract theory. Sessions are paced to match the person’s needs and comfort. She works with people and with couples to explore relationship difficulties, offering individual or joint sessions to find workable next steps.
She accepts clients in the United Kingdom and works in English, and is willing to work with international clients through the service.
What Melissa works with
Everything Melissa lists, in their own terms. LGBT is the reason Melissa is listed here; the rest shows what else Melissa works with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Body image
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
Practical therapeutic approaches and online therapy
Melissa describes herself as an integrative counsellor, which means she draws on a mix of evidence-based techniques tailored to each person. That might include brief, practical strategies to manage anxiety and panic, such as grounding and pacing techniques that people can use in daily life. It can also include trauma-informed ways of working that focus on safety and gradual steps to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with the client about what feels most useful, try methods that match the client’s goals, and adapt as progress is made. This collaborative planning helps the person feel more in control of the work.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caring duties or treatment for chronic illness. It can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let someone choose a setup that suits them on the day. The biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking to ensure they match your needs.
Questions people ask about Melissa
What kinds of problems does Melissa help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, trauma and LGBT-related concerns including gender dysphoria. Additional focus areas include body image, addiction, chronic illness, and self-harm.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is integrative and practical, with a calm, non-judgemental manner. She listens closely and works on achievable steps that fit daily life.
What relevant experience does she bring?
She spent part of her early career in a bereavement service supporting people after loss, and has worked with PTSD, anxiety and gender dysphoria over her four years of practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages does she offer sessions in?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is open to working with international clients through the service.
What session formats does she offer?
The biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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