Melissa | Counsellor

Introduction

Hi, I’m Melissa.

Thanks for stopping by. 

If you’re here, there’s a good chance life feels heavy right now. Maybe work is exhausting and you can’t quite explain why. Maybe relationships leave you feeling drained, misunderstood, or stuck. Or maybe there’s just a quiet sense of feeling lost. Often, there’s something deeper underneath it all too, like growing up with a dad who wasn’t emotionally there, and carrying the impact of that into adulthood without even realising it.

People often tell me, “You’ve asked me questions I’ve never been asked before.” Sometimes that brings a moment of “oh… that makes so much sense” and sometimes it’s silence as things finally click into place. Those moments can be powerful, because they help you see that many of the patterns you’ve been living with originate from somewhere or somebody. They were ways you learned to survive, and they can be understood and gently changed.

You might also be wondering about ADHD. I work with many women who were diagnosed later in life, as well as those who suspect it but have never had the space to explore it properly. I can’t diagnose, but I’m aware of how neurodivergence can sometimes present itself. I may bring it into our work if it feels helpful. 

Maybe you’ve tried many of the coping tools and strategies that work for others, think mindfulness, or meditation. Whilst they can be helpful, for an ADHD brain they can sometimes feel frustrating or uncomfortable. If your mind won’t settle and you come away feeling more exhausted than before, it isn’t because you’re failing, it’s just ADHD brains often rest and regulate differently.

Together, we might explore gentler, more realistic ways of regulating, such as active rest, things like yoga, crocheting, knitting, colouring, or other low-effort activities that allow your mind and body to slow down without pressure. You’re not being lazy; you just may not have been given the right support or understanding to work with your brain, rather than against it.

I work relationally, which means what happens between us can offer insight into how you relate to others, and how you relate to yourself. If you’re feeling anxious, burnt out, carrying unacknowledged grief, or simply tired of holding everything together, this can be a space where you don’t have to perform or have it all figured out.

If you’re wondering about the process:

You can start by sending me an email. We’ll arrange a free 15-minute introductory chat so you can get a feel for whether we’d be a good fit and decide if it feels right for you. After that, you can take time to reflect, and if you choose to continue, we’ll book your first session and begin, at your own pace.