About Melissa Woods

Hello, I'm Melissa Woods

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (MBACP), I work with children, young people, and families who are seeking thoughtful, compassionate support. My practice offers a steady, attuned therapeutic space where individuals can feel safe enough to explore their experiences and begin to make sense of them.

My approach is integrative, blending psychodynamic and humanistic modalities, allowing me to adapt the work to the individual needs of each child or young person. I aim to provide the kind of support that is most meaningful and appropriate for them, rather than working in a fixed or prescriptive way.

At the core of my work is a commitment to recognising each young person's inherent worth, particularly when this may feel difficult for them to access. I offer a consistent, accepting relationship where they can be met without judgement and supported to feel more understood in themselves and by others.

My approach is calm, engaged, and responsive, allowing young people to feel genuinely seen and taken seriously, even when they find it difficult to express themselves verbally. I draw on creativity where appropriate, using it as a meaningful way to help children communicate and process their inner world.

I work with children, adolescents, and young adults to support the development of a more compassionate internal voice and a stronger sense of self-trust. I bring a balance of sensitivity and clarity, offering both emotional containment and gentle challenge where needed.

Attachment-based theory underpins my practice, alongside the PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy). I also draw on Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) to support parent–child relationships, helping to repair connection, strengthen attachment, and foster a deeper sense of safety within the family. I've formally trained in Jungian psychoanalytic thinking, and all of this combined informs my work with those who may have experienced trauma, loss, or relational difficulties, and guides me in offering a reliable, emotionally available, and attuned presence. I also offer intensive 2–3 day per week sessions with those who need it most.