What to expect
The support I offer is outlined below. If you would like more details about my qualifications, professional memberships or experience, then please click the about me section.
Your mental health
You may be seeking counselling for a specific issue such as: stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or feeling sad. These are all good reasons for seeking support. Alternatively your reason might be more difficult to put into words, not everyone has an identifiable reason for seeking support. Many of my clients have sought therapy because they were struggling to find a sense of meaning or place in the world. Whatever your difficulty, I offer my skills and experience to support you. I provide a confidential and non-judgmental space where your experiences, thoughts and feelings can be expressed and explored.
Here are some of the areas of adult mental health that I specialise in*:
stress | depression (including post-natal depression) | low self-esteem
all areas of anxiety
(including: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), health anxiety, social anxiety, coronanxiety, panic attacks, fears and phobias)
feeling sad | low self-confidence | suicidal thoughts
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) | depersonalisation disorder (disassociation)
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | trauma | abuse
self-harm | bereavement and loss | physical health difficulties
relationship difficulties | family issues | social media | addiction
managing identity around gender or neurodiversity
*Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Please contact me if you do not see the problems you are experiencing on the list.
How will therapy help you?
We all experience difficulties throughout our lives. When these difficulties impact our quality of life and our wellbeing, it can be helpful to seek professional support. Recognising that you are not okay and talking about your experiences can be an important step towards recovery.
Counselling provides a safe space to address these difficulties with a trained and experienced therapist. My focus is on listening openly, without judgment, to whatever you bring to the sessions. Together we will explore the challenges you are facing to improve your mental wellbeing.
What should you do next?
Give me a call, text or e-mail to discuss booking an initial session.
Tel: 07423 037 942 or e-mail: mel@melmaton.co.uk
Brief Telephone Consultation: I understand that you might be nervous about coming to see a therapist for the first time, and that finding the right therapist for you is vital. This is why I can offer a free brief telephone consultation (10-15 minutes) to those who would like it, for us to discuss how I may be able to help you and to ensure that we are well matched to move forward together.
What should you expect from the first session?
At the initial session we will explore your reasons for seeking support and what you hope to get out of counselling. We can begin to outline a plan for therapy and agree the areas to explore. If you have specific goals or changes in mind, we can prioritise these and consider manageable steps towards them.
If you are happy to work together we can arrange further sessions. You can either opt for an agreed number (usually between 8-12) or we can work in a more open ended way. The approach we take may depend on your reasons for coming to therapy and what you want to get out of it.
Typically I offer weekly sessions (although this is negotiable). We will review your progress regularly to ensure that therapy is meeting your needs.
If for whatever reason you do not feel I am the right therapist for you, there is no obligation to continue.
If you are unsure of anything please just ask.