Counsellor profile
Melinda Best, BACP
Counsellor - addictions and relationships
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Mindfulness and somatic work
About Melinda
Counsellor Melinda Best is a BACP member with 16 years of professional experience in the United Kingdom. She works with people on addictions, relationship and family concerns, self-esteem and executive coaching. Melinda describes her role as helping people use their own strengths to face difficult issues.
She listens without assuming she knows the answer. Melinda uses client-centred methods to follow what each person brings to sessions. She also draws on cognitive behavioural techniques when practical changes to thoughts and habits are useful.
Mindfulness and somatic methods feature in her work when clients want to notice patterns in the body and mind. Motivational interviewing is used for clients who need help finding and keeping momentum for change, for example with drug and alcohol difficulties or commitment issues.
Sessions typically focus on concrete problems such as communication problems, guilt and shame, infidelity, isolation and midlife questions. Melinda also supports people facing ageing and caregiver stress, chronic illness or disability, and multicultural concerns.
Her style is straightforward and goal-focused. People often work on small steps between sessions, like practical coping strategies and changes in day-to-day routines. The therapist aims to help clients increase confidence, manage difficult feelings and improve relationships.
To begin, people are invited to follow the service process for matching and booking a first appointment through the site. Melinda works in English and does not take international clients.
Approaches used in online counselling and how they help
Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and responding to what the client brings. It helps people feel heard and decide which problems to tackle first. Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and uses practical exercises to change them. It is often used for issues like low self-esteem, anxiety around relationships and addictive behaviours. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Melinda will discuss what you want to change and try methods that fit your goals. The decision is collaborative and can change over time as you notice what helps. Please confirm the exact session formats before booking because the biography does not list them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, avoid travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also make it simpler to keep work and home routines while meeting with a registered or accredited professional. Practical matters such as session length, regularity and any homework tasks are agreed with the therapist at the start.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most often?
She helps people with addictions, relationship and family problems, self-esteem and executive coaching. Additional areas include midlife issues, chronic illness and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
Melinda works in a client-centred way and combines practical methods such as CBT and motivational interviewing. She also uses mindfulness and somatic approaches when useful.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of professional work experience in the United Kingdom.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Can I work with her if I am not in the UK?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.