MF Portrait of Melissa Foster

Melissa Foster, BACP

Compassionate support for anxiety and life changes

5 years in practice · based in United Kingdom · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Melissa

Melissa Foster is a counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has five years of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting pressures, grief and major life changes. She aims to make the first step into therapy feel manageable and respectful of each person's pace.

Her sessions focus on listening first and then working with you to build practical steps forward.

Book with Melissa Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

Melissa uses a person-centred way of working, which means conversations are guided by your needs rather than a fixed script. She also draws on cognitive behavioural ideas to help with patterns of thought and behaviour. Clients often come for help with attachment and abandonment worries, communication or commitment problems, and the emotional impact of separation or blended family life.

She also supports people dealing with career shifts, fertility and fatherhood issues, and the distress that follows bereavement or illness. Melissa completed Level 5 training in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, which enables her to work at a deeper level with patterns and past experiences. She combines that training with solution-focused tools to set small, achievable goals during sessions.

Her aim is to create a calm, non-judgemental space where people can make sense of feelings, try out new ways of coping, and gradually build confidence. Sessions are tailored to what each person needs, and progress is reviewed together as therapy continues.

How her approaches work online and in sessions

Client-centred work places your experience at the heart of the sessions. The therapist listens closely and follows what matters most to you, helping you feel heard and shaping the pace of change around your needs.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, focuses on recognising unhelpful thought patterns and trying out small behavioural experiments. It is useful for anxiety, stress and problems that feel stuck in repeating loops.

Psychodynamic ideas look at how past relationships and patterns influence current feelings and choices. This approach can help when longstanding patterns such as attachment or abandonment worries affect present relationships.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through options with you, try different techniques, and adjust the plan as you notice what helps. Finding the right fit is part of the work together rather than a one-time choice.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let you have a face-to-face conversation from anywhere with a good internet connection. Phone sessions make it easy to fit a session into a busy day or when a camera isn't wanted. Live chat and text-based messaging suit brief check-ins, reflective journalling between sessions, or lower-bandwidth communication. These options make it easier to keep continuity and to use the format that best fits a person's routine and needs.
Book with Melissa Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What issues does she help with?
She supports people struggling with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, grief, parenting pressures, relationship and family difficulties, career changes and other life transitions.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is person-centred and collaborative, with a focus on listening, practical steps and building goals that suit the individual.
What experience does she bring?
She has five years of experience working with people on a range of mental health and life issues, using integrative methods that suit each person.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and works from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How is pricing structured?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start therapy with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
5 years
Licensed
Languages
English

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