Melanie O'Brien

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Addictions and grief
• Self esteem work

About Melanie

Melanie O'Brien helps people work through stress, anxiety, addiction, grief and relationship difficulties using a person-centred way of working. She follows Client-Centred Therapy and has five years' experience. Melanie is registered with the BACP and practises in the United Kingdom.

She focuses on common problems such as depression, self-esteem, parenting strain and coping with life changes. She also helps with intimacy-related issues, eating concerns and problems linked to trauma and abuse. Practical issues such as communication problems, control issues and family of origin concerns are part of her caseload.

Melanie explains things in straightforward language and centres the conversation on what the client brings. In sessions she listens, reflects what she hears and checks understanding so people can make sense of their reactions and choices. Her person-centred approach aims to build a trusting counsellor-client relationship as the basis for change.

She also works with issues often connected to the presenting problem, including abandonment and attachment issues, caregiver stress, chronic pain or illness, and isolation or loneliness. Addictions and domestic violence are included among the concerns she addresses. Melanie uses elements from other approaches alongside Client-Centred Therapy when these seem helpful.

Her practice emphasises short, clear conversations about goals and next steps. People are encouraged to set the pace and bring what feels most pressing to the room. Practical coping strategies and reflections on patterns are offered when they fit the client's aims.

How Client-Centred work fits with online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy places emphasis on a respectful, listening-focused relationship. It involves the counsellor reflecting what is said, checking understanding and giving the client time to find their own answers. This approach is often used for issues such as depression, grief, low self-esteem and relationship difficulties.

Melanie may also draw on brief practical techniques alongside her person-centred work. These additions can offer concrete ways to manage stress, anxiety, addiction-related challenges or changes in daily routine. They are used to support the main focus of talking things through rather than replace it.

Finding the right method is part of the work together. The counsellor will discuss the client’s needs, goals and preferences and agree how to proceed. That collaborative decision helps shape the plan for sessions and any practical tools that might be included.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the exact session formats available before booking. Online work can help fit counselling into a busy life by removing travel time, making shorter check-ins easier and allowing sessions around other commitments. It can also make it simpler to continue work when circumstances change, while keeping the focus on the therapeutic relationship and practical coping strategies.

Topics Melanie lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Addictions
• Relationship issues
• Grief
• Depression
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Parenting issues
• Self-esteem
• Coping with life changes
• Abandonment
• Attachment issues
• Body image
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Family of origin issues
• Family problems
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Mood disorders
• Narcissism
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Self-love
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy

Questions about Melanie

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed among the main concerns she helps people with.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She works from a Client-Centred Therapy approach and may include other elements where useful.

What experience does she have?

She has five years' experience working with a range of mental health and relationship concerns.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. She is registered with the BACP in the United Kingdom.

Can I have sessions in a language other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she work with international clients?

No. She does not accept international clients at this time.

How much do sessions cost?

Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start sessions with her?

Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.