- Client-Centred Therapy
- Guilt and shame
- Depression and grief
About Melanie
Melanie O'Brien is a BACP counsellor in the United Kingdom with five years' practice. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and relationship difficulties, and she lists addictions, family issues and guilt and shame among her focus areas.
Melanie uses a person-centred approach. That means she concentrates on building a trusting therapeutic relationship and responding to what matters to the individual. Sessions aim to help people make sense of painful feelings and difficult events, including trauma, loss and problems with intimacy or self-esteem.
Her style is described as grounded and straightforward. She offers reflections and gentle challenge when helpful, and she adapts pace to the client. Melanie also draws on counselling for depression and some cognitive-behavioural ideas to help with practical patterns and coping skills.
Clients might bring issues such as family of origin problems, communication breakdowns, abandonment or attachment concerns, body image and eating difficulties, or struggles with addiction and control. She also supports people who are coping with chronic illness, caregiver stress, divorce and domestic violence related distress.
Work together usually starts with clarifying the main concerns and agreeing on possible ways forward. Melanie encourages people to speak about what they are carrying without pressure to have it all figured out first. The emphasis is on steady, honest conversations that aim to reduce isolation and increase clarity about next steps.
Client-Centred approach and online counselling
Melanie’s main approach is Client-Centred Therapy. This focuses on building a respectful, trusting relationship and listening to what the person says matters most. It is often used for issues like low self-esteem, grief, relationship strain and feelings of guilt or shame.She also uses counselling for depression and draws on elements of cognitive-behavioural thinking. Counselling for depression looks at patterns that keep low mood in place and practical steps to reduce day-to-day burden. Cognitive-behavioural ideas can help when people want to try clearer behavioural experiments or notice how thoughts link to moods.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Melanie will help the client and therapist agree what feels most helpful based on needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative process can include trying different ways of working and reviewing what is most useful.
If you want to use online sessions, please confirm the exact session formats before booking because formats were not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. Registered or accredited professionals can use remote sessions to keep continuity when life is busy or when attending in-person is difficult.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship problems, addictions and a wide range of family and life-change concerns.
How does she approach shame and guilt?
She uses a person-centred way of working that focuses on the relationship and on talking through what the feelings mean for the individual.
What experience does she bring?
She has five years of clinical practice helping people with issues such as trauma, loss, addiction and self-esteem problems.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is registered with the BACP and works in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary by location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.