Melina Sarra-May

I will have some availability from the end of January early February 2025. I aim to find a suitable time that is convenient for you and I, dependant on your location, country or time-zone. Please contact for all enquiries and a free 15 minute discovery call.

A warm welcome to Melina Therapy, bespoke counselling and wellness coaching, tailored to meet your individual needs. I am Melina, a BACP accredited integrative counsellor with thirty years’ experience as a therapist. I am English-Italian, living in the UK and working with clients online remotely all over the world. I have supported clients with many mental health problems, including, anxiety, depression, loss and grief to more historic, sensitive and complex trauma.

My practice is trauma informed as it is important that you feel safe with me and within the therapy relationship. I specialise in trauma and PTSD, sexual abuse and sexual violence and I have expertise in addictions, childhood, growing-up and identity issues, displacement and relationships. 

I have crafted my own empathic and compassionate approach that is drawn from evidence based therapies, grounded in neuroscience and integrated with mind and body connections such as breathwork and meditation. I provide therapy for young people, adults and relationship counselling for couples and intimate partners. 

At any time in our lives, we may face personal challenges, whether loss, change, growth, health or something affecting our self-esteem. I understand that therapy may seem daunting, however, we can all benefit from additional support and talking to someone who is professionally trained and impartial can really help.  

In addition, if you have problems in your relationship, you can seek support individually or together. Relationship therapy offers you a safe impartial space to be listened to, without fear of judgement or consequences. Couples or intimate partners can seek therapy for various reasons: communication,  conflict, dynamics, jealousy, insecurity, sexual difficulties, infidelity, separation, to name a few. 

And as the new year approaches you may want to check in on some wellness coaching to get you back on track or develop new starts and fresh beginnings for the year ahead.

By definition I would describe counselling as the process of healing, to make or become sound again - a safe space, where you can explore your feelings, be listened to and heard without fear of judgment. You can just be you!

In therapy we often look at our past, the aim is not to blame, but to explore and with compassion we can understand, change our meaning, our narrative and our sense of ourselves and our story. So, we can let go, be at peace and find ways forward.

We can also focus on the present and explore ways that will support and enhance our day-to-day experiences, to feel happier and more content - whether about ourself, our relationships or the world around us. 

My practice is inclusive and welcoming to each client, as unique and wonderful as you are. As a therapist it is a privilege to get to know the person that you will become or was always meant to be.

Your therapy can be short to longer term, depending on your need, always tailor made, always gentle and always at a pace that feels right for you. It's your therapy, your journey. 

Client Testimonials

'I was at the stage where I was just going to give up and then I found Melina! Thank you for taking care of my feelings and helping me to see what I can do and having someone I can talk to.' - client testimonial first session.

'I think I'm ready to come out of therapy now. When I think of the past now, I think of happy memories and when I think of the future, I think of happy events, like going on holiday. I feel like I've got a big suitcase of Melina tools to carry and take with me into the outside world. I will be forever grateful towards Melina and I hope she continues doing what she does and reaching other people.' - Client testimonial on ending therapy and healing from trauma.

During our first session my focus is to assess the most effective therapy methods for you. I can offer you a free 15-minute discovery call to gain an understanding of the support that you are looking for and whether you feel comfortable with me. I believe that everyone deserves to live the life they want and my goal is to help you achieve that.

I will have some availability from the end of January/February 2025. I aim to find a suitable time that is convenient for you and I, dependant on your location, country or time-zone. Please contact me for all enquiries and a 15 minute free discovery call.

A warm welcome, I am Melina and I am a BACP accredited integrative counsellor and wellness coach. I provide bespoke, tailor made supervision for therapists and practitioners who engage empathically with clients in mental health and well-being. I have thirty years’ experience working with many issues, including anxiety, depression, loss and grief - to more historical, sensitive, taboo and complex trauma. I am English-Italian living in the UK and I work remotely, online with therapists all over the world.

My practice is trauma informed, as it is important that you and the client cases that you bring, feel safe with me and safe within the supervisory therapeutic alliance. I specialise in trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse and sexual violence. I have expertise in adoption, addictions, childhood, growing-up, displacement, identity and relationships. I have crafted my own empathic and compassionate approach that is grounded in neuroscience and evidence based therapies, integrated with coaching, creative therapy, mind and body-work.  

I am experienced in working with children, young people, adults, couples and intimate partners relationships and family dynamics.

The aim of supervision is to support and enhance good practice and protect clients from risk, harm and poor practice. I would describe my supervision as your space where you can be reflective in your practice, explore concerns, celebrate the joy of client work, whilst holding space for your own self-care and wellness.

I believe that warmth, openness and authenticity are key to building trust and empathy within the supervisory relationship, while the consistency of supervision is essential to affirming the bond and depth of the work. 

Drawn from my own childhood experiences and journey, I am culturally sensitive and accepting. Inclusive and naturally drawn to marginalised and hard-to-reach clients, who have been targeted or stigmatised in some way. Whilst, supporting the uniqueness of you and your practice.

Please browse my previous career experience:

Melina Therapy - to date working in private practice, counselling, wellness coaching and clinical supervision.

TRY Global - Self Regulation for Resilience Instructor  - to date providing safe non triggering mind to body work connections such as breathwork and meditation to help regulate the nervous system and promote emotional regularity.

Nottingham Rape Crisis based at Nottingham Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Counselling Service Manager - trauma informed, quick response, short term counselling for victims of sexual abuse and sexual violence.

The Children’s Society Stars Project - Project Worker Co-ordinator - therapeutic play therapy for children impacted by parental drug and alcohol misuse. Research into the impact of the 'resilient child'.

Queens Medical Hospital Nottingham NHS - Training Officer for staff and volunteers across the trust for example stress management, communication skills, leadership and conflict resolution.

Compass Drug Alcohol Services - supporting young people, adults with alcohol and drug misuse. Specialist collaborative work with pregnant women and sex workers.

Compass Drug Services - Crack Cocaine Specialist - therapeutic support and pioneering research into the development of crack and cocaine service provision.

The Safe Project - Project Manager - street-based outreach support for disadvantaged young people and families.

Volunteer Work

Open Doors - street based drug service for young people.

Support After Adoption Social Services - support and raising awareness with adoptees and families.

I am dedicated to providing supportive and collaborative clinical supervision. My focus is to assess the most effective methods for you and to meet your individual and practice needs. I can offer you a free 15-minute discovery call to gain an understanding of the supervisory support that you are looking for and so you can see if you feel comfortable with me and we are a good fit.

Supervisee's Testimonials

"I would recommend Melina if you want an approach that is genuine, warm, caring, reflective and informed. I am able to be fully transparent about my emotions and thought processes about my clients. I have felt safe to be able to explain fully how the therapy I have undertaken has impacted on my own well-being. I have learned to be extremely confident in my abilities and my ethical approach."

"I feel that I am becoming a better therapist for my clients working in a specialised area, Gaining a kinder and more compassionate relationship to myself and a better understanding of trauma. A huge impact and thank you Melina, you have been fantastic and I appreciate your supervision and support so much."

"I find Melina extremely warm and encouraging of my development. Able to give enough of herself without taking away from her supervisee's. She is naturally able to guide me towards reflection rather than merely advising me to do it."

"As a newly qualified therapist, I have found Melina's wealth of experience and knowledge to be an invaluable resource. Her warmth, supportive and acceptant approach to the supervisory relationship provides an ideal model to aspire to in my own therapeutic alliances. I know that I can say anything to her and she would not be fazed, which encourages me to be very open, to the benefit of myself and my clients. "