Melanie O'Brien, BACP

Melanie O'Brien is an integrative counsellor who creates a warm, respectful and grounded environment for people to explore whatever feels difficult or painful. She recognises how daunting it can be to reach out for support when life feels overwhelming, stuck or when someone feels disconnected from themselves, and she aims to provide a calm, compassionate space where thoughts and feelings can be examined without judgement.

Melanie works with a range of concerns including anxiety, low mood, self-esteem struggles, grief, trauma and relationship difficulties. Her approach is rooted in person-centred counselling, which prioritises a trusting, empathetic relationship and the client’s own pace and experience. She also integrates counselling for depression (CFD) and elements of cognitive behavioural therapy where these feel helpful, tailoring the work to what each person needs.

Over time Melanie has supported many different people and brings professional experience alongside a deep respect for the courage it takes to face painful issues. Her style is gentle yet honest - she accompanies clients without judgment and offers reflections and insights when these serve the therapeutic process.

Melanie holds BACP accreditation, which denotes membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and reflects adherence to professional standards and ongoing professional development.

Person-Centered Care and Practical Online Therapies

Melanie primarily works from a client-centered perspective, which focuses on creating a trusting, empathic relationship and following the client’s pace. This approach helps people who need a supportive space to explore feelings, make sense of experiences, and build self-understanding.

She also draws on elements of cognitive behavioural therapy to help clients identify and gently challenge unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns. These techniques can be useful for managing persistent anxiety, low mood, and stress by offering practical tools alongside reflective work.

Finding the right fit is part of the therapeutic journey, and Melanie approaches this collaboratively. She will work with each person to consider their needs, goals and preferences and adapt the mix of approaches accordingly, so the work feels personalised and meaningful.

Online therapy with Melanie is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. These options provide flexible access to therapy around work, family and other commitments and make it easier for people to receive consistent support without extensive travel. Licensed professionals and therapists can effectively use these formats to maintain continuity of care while matching the style of sessions to what works best for the client.