Melissa Hepburn, BACP

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Melissa uses integrative, evidence-based techniques tailored to each person. Integrative therapy means drawing on approaches that fit the problem at hand, such as methods that help manage panic attacks or strategies for grief and trauma. Those approaches focus on practical skills, building coping steps and making sense of difficult memories.

Cognitive and behavioural techniques are often used to spot unhelpful thinking and to test new ways of responding. These methods are helpful for anxiety, obsessions and panic because they break problems down into manageable actions. Trauma-focused approaches help people work through painful events at a pace they can tolerate, with grounding and stabilisation techniques to reduce overwhelm.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Melissa will talk with the person about their goals and preferences, and together they will try techniques and adjust the plan as progress is made. The aim is to find what feels useful rather than following a fixed programme.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let the therapist and client see each other and use visual tools, while phone sessions work well when bandwidth or camera use is difficult. Live chat and text-based messaging can suit shorter check-ins or people who prefer writing to speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family responsibilities and day-to-day life.