Welcome to
Melissa Humphries Counselling
A place and time that is just for you
Counselling for adults in Barnstaple, online or by phone, your first 20-minute chat is free, with no obligation to continue.
About Me
I'm Melissa, a counsellor in Barnstaple.
Reaching out for counselling can feel like a big step, and
feeling nervous is completely normal. You don't need to have the words ready or know where to begin. We start from wherever you are, and I won't rush you.
I've spent 14 years in mental health, nearly ten of them
in NHS services, including one of my training placements. I trained with CPCAB, I'm a registered member of the BACP, and I have regular supervision. I also volunteer with Clarity Counselling, offering one-to-one sessions and deliver their groups.
I work with adults, and your difficulty doesn't have to fit
a category. Anxiety, stress and low self-esteem are common reasons people come, and historical trauma is an area I'm especially interested in. I've had counselling myself and have lived experience of trauma, so I understand what it takes to get in touch.
I work in a person-centred integrative way. I begin with
you rather than a technique, and draw on other approaches only when they'd help.
Outside work, I'm usually walking my dogs or reading.
What can Counselling help with?
Talking things through with a friend can be a source of both comfort and relief, however a friend who knows you and your family might just feel too close to talk to. Being able to talk to a trained professional in a confidential and non-judgmental space can feel very safe and provide you with the opportunity to begin to talk about whatever may be troubling you.
Difficult emotions
Abuse
Depression
Relationship issues
PTSD
Trauma
Eating disorders
OCD
Low self esteem
Physical illness
Bereavement
Work problems
Addiction
Anxiety
Stress
Historical Trauma
Painful experiences from the past, whether in childhood or later in life, can go on shaping how a person feels about themselves and other people. They can show up as anxiety, low self-worth, difficulty trusting others, or a sense of being stuck in patterns you can't quite explain.
I have a particular interest in this area, and I work gently, at whatever pace you set. You don't have to tell me more than you want to, and we don't have to start with the hardest things. We can build trust first, make sense of what happened, and find ways of living with it that feel manageable. I'll stay alongside you throughout, so you're never working through it alone.
Location & Fees
I see clients in person in central Barnstaple. My room is
on the ground floor, with wheelchair access and a disabled toilet, and there is a public pay-and-display car park nearby.
If you'd rather not travel, I also offer sessions online
and by telephone, and they work just as well.
Each 50-minute session costs £50. Before you decide anything, you're welcome to a free 20-minute chat by phone or video, with no obligation.
Concessionary rates are available, so please ask.
Payment is by bank transfer before the session. For in-person sessions you can also pay by cash at the session.
Please give me 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or
rearrange a session. Sessions cancelled with less notice, and missed sessions, are charged at the full fee.
You can reach out to me by telephone +44 7587673845 or email. You can also find me on Facebook.
Testimonials
“I can’t thank Melissa enough for the support she has given me over the last few months.
I felt completely at ease right from our first meeting and can honestly say that I have learned a lot about my own emotions and how to manage them better in the strange and complicated world that we live in.
Talking about how your feelings really helps. If you are unsure about counselling, don’t be because we all need it sometimes!”
Client
" Thank you so much for all your support, understanding and perspective the last few months. I have learnt so much and had so many realisations since we started. You have made me feel comfortable and at ease to speak openly."
Client
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me with any questions about
how counselling works, or to book your free 20-minute chat. It's a chance to talk about what has brought you here and to see whether working together feels right, with no obligation to continue.
You can call me on +44 7587673845 or reach out by email.
All enquiries are usually answered within 48 hours, and all contact is confidential, using secure phone and email services.
I'm not an emergency service. If you're in crisis, please
contact your GP, call NHS 111 or 999, or call Samaritans free on 116 123