- Addictions support
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem work
About Melinda
Melinda Best is a BACP counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with 16 years of professional experience. She works with people who are dealing with addictions, relationship strain, family problems, low self-esteem, and those seeking coaching for work or life decisions. She also helps with issues like guilt and shame, infidelity, and the stresses caregivers face.
Melinda starts from the view that the client is the expert in their own story. Sessions focus on practical steps and clearer thinking rather than labels. Conversations aim to help people recognise their strengths and the choices available to them. She uses straightforward talk, listening, and collaborative planning.
Her approach draws on client-centred work, where the person’s priorities guide each session. She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and make concrete changes. Mindfulness and somatic methods are used too, when bodily awareness or calming strategies help manage strong feelings.
Melinda has spent much of her career supporting people with substance use and relationship breakdowns. She has worked with issues that often bring guilt and shame, such as betrayal, addiction relapse, and family conflict. Practical coaching is available for those balancing careers and caring roles.
People can expect direct, calm conversation and small, manageable steps. The focus is on clearer choices and practical coping, not on quick fixes. To begin, clients follow the service's matching and booking process to schedule an initial session.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centred Therapy means sessions focus on what the person brings and what matters most to them. The counsellor listens, reflects, and follows the client’s priorities to shape each meeting. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour. It uses straightforward exercises and goal-setting to reduce unhelpful thoughts and build new habits. Mindfulness offers short, practical ways to notice thoughts and bodily feelings so strong emotions become easier to manage.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. Melinda will collaborate with the client to decide which methods feel useful and practical. She adapts techniques over time as needs, goals, and circumstances change.
Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so please confirm available online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy weeks, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It also lets people practise techniques in their everyday environment and bring real-life issues into the session for immediate discussion.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with addictions, relationship and family problems, self-esteem, coaching, and related issues such as guilt and shame.
How does she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She uses client-centred conversations alongside cognitive techniques and somatic awareness to help people name and manage these feelings.
What is her professional background?
She has 16 years of professional experience working in therapeutic and coaching roles with adults.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients book with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are used.
How are fees and cancellations handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.