Counsellor profile
Melissa Hepburn, BACP
Counsellor - Stress and relationships
See online counselling options- Bereavement support
- Trauma and PTSD
- Gender dysphoria
About Melissa
Counsellor Melissa Hepburn is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has four years of experience and helps people with stress, anxiety, LGBT issues, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, and grief.
Melissa began her career in a bereavement service, supporting people after loss. She spent time working with individuals and with multiple family members affected by bereavement. That frontline work shaped how she listens and responds to grief and loss.
She also has experience working with post‑traumatic stress, panic and anxiety, and gender dysphoria. Her practice is integrative, drawing on different evidence‑based techniques to suit the person in front of her. Sessions focus on what a person needs right now rather than on fitting every meeting into a single method.
Melissa offers practical, down‑to‑earth conversations. She aims to be non‑judgemental and open minded while helping people talk through difficult feelings. She can work with relationship problems and will discuss whether individual or joint sessions make sense in each case.
Her approach pays attention to both emotional and everyday impacts of problems. That includes concerns such as body image, chronic illness and pain, self‑harm, addictions and social anxiety. People looking for help can expect clear discussion about goals and realistic steps between sessions.
Therapeutic approaches and online counselling
Melissa works in an integrative way, combining techniques that suit the issue and the person. For example, trauma‑focused methods help people process distressing memories and reduce flashbacks or hypervigilance. These approaches break problems into manageable steps and teach grounding or regulation skills.Cognitive and behavioural techniques are also used to address anxiety and panic. These involve noticing unhelpful thinking patterns and experimenting with small behavioural changes to reduce avoidance and worry. They are practical and goal oriented, often with exercises between sessions.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The counsellor and client decide together which methods to try, based on current needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative choice can be reviewed as therapy progresses.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as the biography does not list formats. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caring duties or travel, and it can reduce time spent travelling. Some formats suit shorter check‑ins or phone calls, while others work better for longer, face‑to‑face style conversations. Ask which formats are offered when you arrange the first appointment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What problems does she help with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and grief. Her wider focus includes body image, addiction and panic symptoms.
What is her approach in sessions?
She practises an integrative style, using different evidence‑based techniques as needed. Sessions are practical and conversational, focused on what helps now.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has four years of experience, including work in a bereavement service and with PTSD and anxiety cases.
Which professional body is she registered with?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
She accepts international clients. Check practical arrangements before arranging a session.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to see her?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.