At a glance
- Credentials
- BACP
- Registration
- BACP, United Kingdom / 82077
- Experience
- 16 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- United Kingdom
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp.
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- Addictions and recovery
- Relationship and family
- Self esteem and coaching
About Melinda
Melinda Best is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with 16 years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with addictions, relationship and family difficulties, low self-esteem, motivation, and executive coaching. Melinda approaches conversations with respect and a belief that each person is the expert in their own life.
She uses practical, person-centred ways of working that aim to build on strengths. Sessions often involve talking through choices, setting small goals, and noticing what gets in the way of change. Motivational Interviewing features in her practice to help people find their own reasons to move forward.
Melinda also draws on cognitive behavioural ideas and mindfulness practices to help manage unhelpful thinking and build day-to-day coping skills. Somatic approaches are used when attention to physical sensations can support emotional change. These methods are used to help with problems such as chronic pain, caregiving stress, and feelings of isolation.
Her work includes supporting people through midlife transitions, commitment concerns, infidelity, guilt and shame, and multicultural issues. She aims to create a calm space where practical steps can be tried between sessions. Melinda describes the first step of seeking help as an act of courage and offers steady, collaborative support.
Clients are encouraged to decide the pace and shape of work. If someone wants to start, they choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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Approaches in online work and what to expect
Melinda commonly uses Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify what they want to change and to strengthen their own reasons for taking steps. This approach focuses on listening, gentle questioning, and supporting the client to make choices that feel right for them.
She also draws on Client-Centred Therapy, which means the conversation is led by the client’s priorities and pace, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which offers practical ways to recognise and reframe unhelpful thoughts and build coping skills. CBT can help with worry, low mood, and challenges that come with chronic illness or caregiving stress.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods suit their goals, needs, and preferences. That choice can shift as progress is made and new priorities emerge.
Session formats were not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can tailor sessions to practical needs, such as quieter surroundings, reduced screen time, or shorter appointments to fit a lunch break. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Aging and geriatric issuesCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDissociationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMulticultural concernsProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)SexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyExperience
16+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Melinda address?
She works with addictions, relationship and family difficulties, self-esteem and motivation, and executive coaching concerns. Additional areas include chronic illness, caregiving stress, midlife issues, and multicultural concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is person-centred and collaborative, emphasising strengths and the client’s own expertise. She combines practical goal-setting with motivational techniques and coping strategies.
How much experience does she have?
Melinda has 16 years of professional work experience in the United Kingdom supporting people with addictions, relationship and family concerns, and coaching needs.
What credentials and where is she based?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are offered and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers