Melissa Venter, BACP

Melissa Venter works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and big life changes. She aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk openly about what is weighing on them. Melissa uses compassion and plain language to help clients find clearer ways forward.

With three years of professional experience and registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Melissa adapts conversations and plans to each person’s needs. She asks practical questions and helps set achievable steps so progress feels manageable.

Sessions focus on identifying patterns that keep problems active and on building day-to-day skills to cope better. Melissa pays attention to attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, communication and control issues, and practical problems like panic attacks and mood swings.

She also works with concerns such as guilt and shame, isolation, midlife questions, relationship breakups and finding purpose. The emphasis is on clear, doable strategies alongside time to process difficult feelings.

Therapy with Melissa is presented as a collaborative process. She supports each person to set goals and reviews progress together, adjusting the approach as needed. Prospective clients are encouraged to complete the intake steps and discuss practical arrangements before booking.

How evidence-based approaches guide online therapy

Melissa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address symptoms and daily challenges. One common approach involves identifying patterns of thought and behaviour that maintain anxiety or low mood, then practising alternative responses and coping skills. This helps with panic, worry and mood instability by building step-by-step tools to manage difficult moments.

Another approach focuses on exploring attachment and abandonment themes to understand how past relationships affect current reactions. This work uses conversation and reflection to map out repeating patterns and to try new ways of relating to oneself and others. It can be helpful for people feeling isolated, struggling with control issues or working through relationship endings.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that match a person's needs, goals and preferences, and will adjust the plan as progress is reviewed.

If you are considering online sessions, check which formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Confirming available options ensures the practical arrangements fit into everyday life, for example making time for a session during a lunch break, avoiding travel, or choosing a shorter check-in when needed.