Melanie Cotterill, NCPS

Client-Centred Therapy begins by focusing on what matters to the person in front of the counsellor. The therapist listens without judgement and follows the client’s pace so they feel heard. This approach helps when someone needs to process feelings like grief, low self-esteem or a history of abuse.

Solution-Focused Therapy looks for small, practical steps that can change daily life. Sessions identify what already works and build on those strengths to reach short-term goals. This is useful for problems such as panic attacks, relationship tensions and coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Melanie will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences and then agree a plan. That plan can change as progress is made, with a mix of listening and practical exercises tailored to the client.

Online sessions offer flexibility and make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls let people maintain face-to-face contact and read non-verbal cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging allow shorter check-ins and ongoing written reflections between sessions. These formats help people access therapy from different locations and at times that suit their schedules.