Hi, I'm Mel
I'm an Integrative Counsellor working online and I also offer training and workshops for individuals and professionals on body image, weight stigma and disordered eating. I've worked for eating disorder charities for many years and have a passion for helping people with all kinds of body image and eating concerns.
I'm originally from Staffordshire, but now reside in Bristol. My counselling practice, and the majority of my trainings, are online so you can attend from anywhere in the UK (or overseas for the workshops, being mindful of time differences of course!) I travelled for quite a while in my 20's, and lived in Australia and New Zealand for a few years.
I've worked in mental health in the charity sector for over ten years. My other passion, aside from body image and eating disorders, is working in Domestic Abuse services. I work with perpetrators of abuse to help change their behaviours and create a safer world for their families.
I worked for a counselling charity as the Office Manager for many years before embarking on my own counselling training. I knew how hard it would be so I knew I needed to be ready! I also didn't want to rush the process, I knew I had a lot to learn about myself before starting. I've had a lot of therapy myself, and have had a lot of my own struggles in life, which have led me to where I am now. My own relationship with my body and food has led me to work in this area, which I believe is hugely beneficial for my counselling and training work having this basis of lived experience.
My counselling training and experiences:
I have done talks and workshops for various companies and charities, including:
I host my own workshops online on Body Acceptance and Weight Stigma and Disordered Eating. Find out more here.
I write my own blogs here, but have also written various guest blogs over the years. I was published in Therapy Today in the June 2021 edition with an article called "Counsellors aren't immune to fatphobia". It's available in print and on the BACP website, but if you're not a member you can read it here.
Personally, I'm a big fan of pizza and cold water swimming (not at the same time!) Though most people think we're bonkers, cold water swimming can be great for your mental health and wellbeing. I love it, it's like a reset button and is really calming. If you follow me on social media, you'll probably see pictures of this, and probably sequins and as I'm quite the sequin enthusiast. Standing out and expressing myself has been a big part of my own body acceptance learning, as I've worked on the shame I felt about myself and have built self-compassion. I love expressing myself with bold clothes and accessories, and sometimes this involves wearing things that bigger people are often told we “shouldn’t” wear. I'm passionate about helping those in larger bodies build confidence and self-acceptance. I’m learning more every day about inclusion and intersectionality, i.e. race, culture, gender, disability, and all the other unique parts of humanity, but that also sadly cause such pain for many. I see my future as a therapist as a way to help walk alongside others to be able to support, listen and really hear what’s going on for you, to allow space to process, understand and heal. I aim to be as collaborative as possible; counselling is your space, so it needs to be tailored to you. Counselling for me is part of social justice, helping bring a little more kindness and compassion into a world which can be exclusionary and cruel for so many people.
Thank you for reading, I hope this has given some insight into my values and passions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to work with me or if you have any questions.
I'm originally from Staffordshire, but now reside in Bristol. My counselling practice, and the majority of my trainings, are online so you can attend from anywhere in the UK (or overseas for the workshops, being mindful of time differences of course!) I travelled for quite a while in my 20's, and lived in Australia and New Zealand for a few years.
I've worked in mental health in the charity sector for over ten years. My other passion, aside from body image and eating disorders, is working in Domestic Abuse services. I work with perpetrators of abuse to help change their behaviours and create a safer world for their families.
I worked for a counselling charity as the Office Manager for many years before embarking on my own counselling training. I knew how hard it would be so I knew I needed to be ready! I also didn't want to rush the process, I knew I had a lot to learn about myself before starting. I've had a lot of therapy myself, and have had a lot of my own struggles in life, which have led me to where I am now. My own relationship with my body and food has led me to work in this area, which I believe is hugely beneficial for my counselling and training work having this basis of lived experience.
My counselling training and experiences:
- BA (Hons) Counselling and Therapeutic Practice
- Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Listening Skills course
- Eating Disorder training - NCFED, First Steps ED, plus years of my own learning - books, webinars, conferences, podcasts etc!
- Various webinars and reading on anti-diet approaches, body acceptance and fat activism
- Race, Culture and Anti-Discrimination training - 10 weeks
- ASIST Suicide Intervention training
- Various Domestic Abuse trainings with Alpha Vesta, Relate, and the Working with Perpetrators European Network
I have done talks and workshops for various companies and charities, including:
- National Counsellor's Day Conference
- Pluralistic Practice Conference
- First Steps ED - body image workshops
- Edinburgh University online Weight Stigma seminar series
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Body image
- AdBlock Bristol - gender inequalities and advertising
- Celebrating Activism in Counselling and Psychotherapy event by PCSR
- National Centre for Eating Disorders - lived experience
- Boys at the Crossroads Conference Bristol - DV perpetrator work
I host my own workshops online on Body Acceptance and Weight Stigma and Disordered Eating. Find out more here.
I write my own blogs here, but have also written various guest blogs over the years. I was published in Therapy Today in the June 2021 edition with an article called "Counsellors aren't immune to fatphobia". It's available in print and on the BACP website, but if you're not a member you can read it here.
Personally, I'm a big fan of pizza and cold water swimming (not at the same time!) Though most people think we're bonkers, cold water swimming can be great for your mental health and wellbeing. I love it, it's like a reset button and is really calming. If you follow me on social media, you'll probably see pictures of this, and probably sequins and as I'm quite the sequin enthusiast. Standing out and expressing myself has been a big part of my own body acceptance learning, as I've worked on the shame I felt about myself and have built self-compassion. I love expressing myself with bold clothes and accessories, and sometimes this involves wearing things that bigger people are often told we “shouldn’t” wear. I'm passionate about helping those in larger bodies build confidence and self-acceptance. I’m learning more every day about inclusion and intersectionality, i.e. race, culture, gender, disability, and all the other unique parts of humanity, but that also sadly cause such pain for many. I see my future as a therapist as a way to help walk alongside others to be able to support, listen and really hear what’s going on for you, to allow space to process, understand and heal. I aim to be as collaborative as possible; counselling is your space, so it needs to be tailored to you. Counselling for me is part of social justice, helping bring a little more kindness and compassion into a world which can be exclusionary and cruel for so many people.
Thank you for reading, I hope this has given some insight into my values and passions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to work with me or if you have any questions.
Read more of my writing on my blog here.
