Melissa Hepburn

• Stress and anxiety
• Grief and bereavement
• Gender dysphoria

About Melissa

Melissa Hepburn works on stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, trauma and LGBT-related concerns using an integrative approach. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has four years' experience. She offers counselling in English and accepts international clients.

Before qualifying, Melissa worked in a bereavement service where she supported people and their families after a death. That role shaped how she talks about loss and grief in later work. She also developed experience supporting people with post-traumatic stress and anxiety.

Melissa has worked with issues related to gender dysphoria and with people affected by sexual assault and abuse. She also helps with body image, guilt and shame, self-harm, and isolation or loneliness. Her practice includes support for people facing chronic pain, long-term illness or disability and for those coping after natural or human-caused disasters.

She uses an integrative way of working, drawing on different counselling ideas to suit what a person needs in the room. Sessions focus on talking through the problem, spotting patterns, and trying practical ways to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Melissa aims to be non-judgemental and open-minded in sessions.

She also offers work for people dealing with drug and alcohol addiction, obsessive or compulsive thoughts, panic attacks, sexual difficulties including sex addiction, and social anxiety or phobia. People can expect straightforward, paced conversations and practical suggestions when useful.

Therapeutic approaches and how online counselling works

Melissa describes her practice as integrative, which means she draws on several evidence-based techniques to suit a person's needs. One commonly used approach is trauma-informed work, which focuses on understanding how past events affect current thoughts and reactions and introduces ways to manage flashbacks or intrusive memories.

She also uses anxiety-management techniques that help people spot unhelpful thought patterns and practise calmer responses, which can reduce panic and social fear over time. A grief-focused way of working helps people process loss through discussion, memory work and practical coping steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the first sessions. The counsellor will discuss your concerns, goals and preferences and suggest which methods might help most. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as therapy progresses.

Please confirm the current session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work or family life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can offer effective support over distance while working with you to choose the best way to meet your needs.

Topics Melissa lists

• Stress and anxiety
• LGBT
• Relationship issues
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Body image
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Gender dysphoria
• Guilt and shame
• Isolation and loneliness
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sex addiction
• Sexual assault and abuse
• Social anxiety and phobia

Questions about Melissa

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes, she supports people with anxiety, panic attacks and social anxiety or phobia.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She offers an integrative counselling approach, using different therapeutic ideas to suit each person's needs.

How much experience does she have?

She has four years' experience, including time working in a bereavement service and with trauma.

Where is she based?

She is based in the United Kingdom and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

What languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients see her?

Yes, she accepts international clients.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start counselling?

Select the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.