Melanie Ersapah M.S.
Counselor
Melanie Ersapah (she/her) studied her Bachelors in Liberal Arts, with a focus on Psychology, at Sarah Lawrence College in New York before receiving her Masters of Science in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Keele University in the U.K. She has worked with adults and young people with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, bereavement, work stress, exploring gender/sexual identity, and relationship issues. Before coming to TMH, Melanie gained experience working in a local charity based in Greater London. She has had a variety of clients from a range of backgrounds and needs. Therefore, she is aware of the effects that race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic factors, and their intersections can have on clients’ lived experiences. She is considerate of how these experiences can affect mental health and the therapeutic relationship.
Melanie is a person-centered therapist who incorporates ideas from mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) skills into her work to suit her clients’ needs. She also has qualifications in therapy via telehealth and understands that there is a high-demand for online services presently.
Specialties, Populations Served & Treatment Options
Specialties
- Online and Face-to-Face Counseling
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Culture and Diversity
- LGBTQIA+
- Boundary Work and Self-Care
Populations Served
- Adults
- Young People (mostly working with teens and adolescents)
Treatment Options
- Person-Centered Therapy
- Integrative Approach (including ideas from PCT, CBT, ACT and mindfulness-based therapies)
What to Expect
An initial session with Melanie usually follows the following format:
Melanie will introduce herself and give background on her work experience. She will review our policies on cancellations and confidentiality and will give you an opportunity to ask questions. After introducing herself, Melanie will ask you to take the lead to introduce yourself as well as your reasons for seeking therapy. Melanie may ask you some clarifying questions along the way and will attempt to understand your concerns. Towards the end of the session Melanie will take time to discuss with you more about what future sessions might look like and what your therapeutic goals might be.
For the following sessions:
Melanie will usually open with a general question and might ask you if there is something in particular that you want to discuss. Melanie asks clients to lead sessions because she believes that they are the expert on their own experiences and wants the session to be focused on what clients feel is important. However, Melanie appreciates that this can be difficult for many, especially if you are new to therapy. If you prefer a more directive approach, Melanie is happy to adjust her working style to suit your needs. She really welcomes feedback from her clients and creates opportunities for clients to share their experience of therapy with her. Approximately every 6 sessions she will have a check-in with you to see how things are going. Melanie wants to work with clients to meet their expectations but is aware that her approach may not be suitable for all. We have many great counsellors/psychologists on our team and Melanie wants to make sure that clients at TMH are satisfied with the services they receive so she is happy to refer to her colleagues if she is not the right therapist for you.
If you would like more information on how Melanie works please contact us and Melanie would be happy to answer your questions. If you want to understand more about person-centered therapy please check our PCT page for more information.
