Melissa Hepburn, BACP

Melissa Hepburn is an integrative counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, and LGBT-related concerns. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Her manner is open-minded and non-judgemental, and she aims to make people feel comfortable from the first conversation.

She began her work in a bereavement service, supporting people and families after loss. That experience shaped how she listens and responds to grief and mourning. She also has practical experience with post-traumatic stress and anxiety, and with concerns around gender dysphoria.

Her approach is integrative, which means she uses a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques chosen to fit each person. Sessions are conversational and focused on what matters most to the individual. She emphasises empathy, respect and a steady presence throughout the work.

Melissa also supports people who are dealing with body image, chronic pain or illness, addiction, obsessive thoughts, panic attacks and social anxiety. She offers help with guilt, shame, isolation and self-harm concerns, along with sexual assault recovery and issues connected to sexual or sex-related behaviours.

People can expect straightforward, practical conversations about next steps. Melissa encourages shared decision-making about aims and methods, and she adapts her style to match each person’s pace and needs.

How evidence-based approaches work online

Melissa practises an integrative model that draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques. One common approach she uses is trauma-informed work, which focuses on stabilising distressing symptoms, understanding what happened and building practical coping skills to manage flashbacks or intense anxiety. Another approach often used in integrative practice targets anxiety and obsessive thoughts with structured strategies such as behavioural experiments and paced exposure to reduce avoidance and panic symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will work collaboratively with each person to identify goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust plans as progress is made. Clients are encouraged to give feedback so the work stays relevant and manageable.

If you are considering online therapy, check the current session options before booking because specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, remove travel time and allow people to attend from different locations. It can also make shorter check-ins simpler and offer flexibility around appointment times. Registered or accredited professionals can explain which approaches translate best to the session format you choose.