Melanie Cross

I have availability Mondays to Thursdays, with some out of hours online sessions available (mornings and evenings).

Deciding to come for therapy is a big decision so finding a therapist you feel comfortable with is a really important first step.  I take a warm, empathic and collaborative approach to therapy, creating a non-judgmental space for us to explore whatever is troubling you.

My Approach

I am trained in the Person-centred approach, psychodynamic therapy and CBT. I also have further training in attachment theory and trauma therapy. I draw on these theories to help tailor therapy to your particular needs and preferred way of working. 

As an Integrative counsellor, I take a relational approach to counselling. Because our emotional wounds are almost always caused by others, healing also tends to be found through relationship with others. A good relationship with a therapist allows for exploration of our relational wounds and the coping strategies we have adopted to manage these.

The majority of the issues that people seek therapy for tend to be related to either patterns of behaviour deeply rooted in their past which continue to show up in new relationships and situations, or they are troubled by deep anxieties about the future. My approach aims to help you address these patterns and anxieties so you can start to live a more satisfying life in the present.

As a trauma trained counsellor I understand that traumatic experiences are stored somatically within the nervous system rather than in accessible narrative memory. If you have experienced trauma and/or childhood neglect (and want to explore these experiences), we will work gently and mindfully, utilising coping skills and sensorimotor therapy techniques, seeking to reestablish a sense of internal safety.

Experience and Training

I have worked within the mental health field for over five years, including working in an acute mental health setting and have experience of working with anxiety, depression, EUPD, emotional dysregulation, sexual assault and domestic violence, childhood trauma and bipolar disorder. I have experience of working in a specialist sexual violence and domestic abuse service for women  as well as over two years experience working with a low cost counselling service in Southampton.

I hold a Masters of Arts degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton and am a registered member of the BACP.

Practice details

I offer weekly face to face sessions from the Options Wellbeing hub in Shirley, Southampton.  I also offer online sessions if preferred (UK only). 

I offer both short and long term therapy depending on what you need. All sessions last 50 minutes (except for the free 20 minute introductory call).

Privacy Information

Your privacy is very important to me and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me. I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. 

For a copy of my full privacy notice, please contact me via the contact details provided above.

I would recommend trying out a few therapists to find a good fit for you. I offer a free 20 minute call so you can get a feel for what our sessions might be like and ask any questions you may have. 

If working together feels like a good fit and you'd like to proceed, we would then book in an initial session. During this session we would go through the counselling contract and discuss your goals for therapy, as well as what has brought you to therapy at this present time. We will also discuss whether you are considering short or longer term therapy and if you have any preferences in terms of how we work together. 

Sessions can then be arranged on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

If you would like to book a complementary 20 minute call, you can do this directly from my website melaniecrosstherapy.com or you can contact me via the contact form.