Melissa Purnell

I offer online or face-to-face, Educational Reflective Supervision to school staff, such as SLT, Safeguarding Leads, and ASD, SEMH Staff.

I hold an MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and a BSc in Psychology. I work with Adults, Adolescents, and Children.

I am a qualified primary teacher and have worked in Educational Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs) and Mainstream Education supporting children with Trauma, Autism, and ADHD.

Work Experience

I have substantial experience (25 years) working in East London within the Education sector as a Trauma, SEMH Practitioner, Primary Teacher, and Psychodynamic Counsellor.

I have previously supported Farleigh Hospice as a child and adolescent (4-18 years) bereavement counsellor and Kids Inspire as an outreach schools counsellor.

I have a private psychodynamic practice in Chelmsford and work with adolescents, children and adults. 

Educational Supervision

I offer reflective supervision for school staff and social workers, who are working with complex cases such as Looked After Children, SEN, and Mental Health needs. Educational supervision provides additional support to reflect upon the dynamics of their workload to ensure they are working efficiently by understanding the conscious and unconscious needs of the children/ families they support. Depending on your caseload, It is suggested we meet for one hour a month as a minimum. The case and direction of the discussion are chosen by the supervisee, who is then guided to examine their thoughts and feelings about the case and use this awareness to serve the client better. This service can be offered online using the Zoom platform or face-to-face sessions in my consultancy office. 

Parent Support/ Supervision

Sometimes, children choose not to engage in one-to-one counselling themselves, and they feel helpless, and unsure where to turn. It may be that you are looking for help on how to support your child through a turbulent period or for either ongoing support as a parent or just a one-off consultation for advice on a particular difficulty. At Dynamic-Minds we can provide you with a space to reflect on your circumstances and support you to make positive changes in your relationship with your children. 

Psychodynamic Supervision

I offer professional, reflective and supportive supervision to therapists and practitioners at different stages of their clinical development. My approach is grounded in psychodynamic thinking and informed by the Seven-Eyed Model of supervision.

I see supervision as a space to step back from the demands of clinical practice, think carefully about the work and develop a deeper understanding of what may be taking place within the therapeutic relationship. Alongside exploring the client’s experience and clinical material, we can consider your own responses, the dynamics within the therapeutic relationship, and the wider context in which the work takes place.

The Seven-Eyed Model provides a helpful framework for exploring the different aspects of the therapeutic process, including the client, therapist, relationship and the supervisory relationship itself. I use this framework flexibly, allowing the supervision to respond to what feels most important in the work being brought.

I aim to provide a supervision space that is thoughtful, collaborative and psychologically safe, where you can explore complexity, uncertainty and challenges in your practice without judgement. I believe that reflective supervision supports both effective clinical practice and continued professional development, helping practitioners to develop greater awareness, confidence and depth in their work.

Whether you are newly qualified, building your practice or an experienced practitioner seeking ongoing reflective supervision, I offer a space to think, reflect and develop your therapeutic practice with care and curiosity.

Sessions and fees

60-minute supervision session — £80

90-minute supervision session — £100

Sessions are available on a regular basis or as occasional reflective supervision, depending on your needs.

Availability - I currently have sessions during the day between 10 am and 2 pm on various days. 

I offer weekly, face-to-face and online psychodynamic therapy for Young People aged 18 plus and older adults. 

Sessions may be short-term, focusing on specific issues, or longer-term to explore more complex emotional and relational difficulties. 

I also provide parent support sessions and educational and reflective supervision for school staff, including SLT, Safeguarding Leads, and professionals working in ASD and SEMH settings.

Although I do work with young children and teenagers, at present I do not have any availability at present.  

Fees: I currently charge £70 per session. (50 minutes)

Life is not always straightforward, and at times it can become challenging, leaving us feeling overwhelmed by a range of complex emotions that may impact our daily lives. We do not always have someone with whom we can fully share our innermost thoughts and feelings. Having the support of a trained professional who is not personally connected to our lives can provide the space to open up and speak freely.

Dedicating time to yourself to explore the issues affecting your life can be highly beneficial, offering the time and space needed to gain clarity and understanding. I aim to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment and to work collaboratively with you to explore ways of helping you move forward.

I am a psychodynamic counsellor with specialist experience in working with relationship difficulties, childhood trauma, school avoidance, anxiety, and depression. 

My work is grounded in a non-directive psychodynamic approach, which seeks to facilitate the exploration of unconscious processes shaping thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. By examining how early experiences and relational patterns influence current functioning, therapy aims to foster greater insight, support psychological wellbeing, and promote meaningful and sustained personal development.

Qualifications and Experience

MA in Psychodynamic Counselling 

BSc in Psychology. 

Professional Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status.

Online and Telephone Counselling

Supervision in the helping profession.

Work Experience

• I have a private psychodynamic practice based in Chelmsford, and work with adolescents, children, and adults. 
• I have 26 years of experience working in East London in the Education sector as a Trauma, SEMH Practitioner, Primary Teacher, and Psychodynamic Counsellor. 
• I have previously supported Farleigh Hospice as a child and adolescent (4-18 years) bereavement counsellor and Kids Inspire as an outreach school counsellor. 

Counselling sessions are 50 minutes long and can be in-person or online, depending on your needs. 

Adults and Teenagers

Psychodynamic therapy is a form of in-depth talk therapy that aims to bring unconscious or deeply buried thoughts and feelings to the conscious mind so that repressed experiences and emotions, often from childhood, can be brought to the surface and examined.

Children and Young People 

If talking directly feels too difficult, then I provide alternative therapeutic methods as a safe way to express their inner thoughts.

I offer Sand Tray Therapy, which is a form of non-directive counselling. Clients are encouraged to create three-dimensional pictures in sand trays using miniature objects or figures. It is an expressive, non-verbal, creative approach that can be used with people of all ages.

I also offer Clay Field Therapy for those who may find talking too difficult when expressing emotions. The therapeutic focus is not on object creation, but on the tactile connection with the clay as a symbolic external world. 

Clients are encouraged to use paint or drawing to communicate thoughts and feelings that they find difficult to put into words. 

Educational Supervision 

I also offer reflective supervision for school staff who are working with complex cases and need additional support to reflect upon the dynamics of their workload to ensure they are working efficiently by understanding the conscious and unconscious needs of the children/ families they support.  Depending on your caseload, it is suggested we meet for one hour a month as a minimum. The case and direction of the discussion are chosen by the supervisee, who is then guided to examine their thoughts and feelings about the case and use this awareness to serve the client better.  This service can be offered online using the Zoom platform or face-to-face sessions in my consultancy office. 

What to Expect

Once you send an enquiry, I’ll email back to invite you to a consultation. This first meeting lasts up to 90 minutes and costs £100. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other, talk about what’s brought you to therapy, discuss your goals, and see if my approach feels right for you. During this session, we’ll also complete any necessary paperwork, go over fees, and plan how we might arrange regular sessions if you choose to continue.

If we both feel comfortable moving forward, the next step is your first therapy session. This session will focus more deeply on your current situation and background, including family and childhood experiences, which often help reveal patterns in your life. Feeling nervous or unsure at this stage is completely normal. You’ll be encouraged to speak at your own pace, with no pressure to share more than you’re ready for. Over time, you’ll lead the conversation, and I’ll listen carefully, helping you explore connections between past and present experiences.

At the end of the first session, we’ll check in about how you felt and whether you want to continue. If you decide to keep going, we can agree on either open-ended therapy with no fixed end date or a set number of sessions. 

Short term therapy usually lasts 8 to 20 sessions, focusing on specific goals or challenges and offering practical support within a set timeframe. Long term therapy is open-ended, allowing deeper exploration of emotional patterns and life experiences for lasting personal growth.

Child and Teenage Referrals

For children and teenagers, the process starts with a consultation with the parent or guardian (up to 90 minutes) to understand the child’s history and challenges and decide if my approach fits. If we move forward, a second consultation will be arranged with the child and parent which allows the child to share their feelings, ask questions and decide if they want to continue. 

The child must consent to participating in the counselling process. 

I currently have availability for Online work on Mondays and Saturdays. 

Reaching out for counselling can feel like a big step, and finding the right person to talk to is important. My aim is to offer a warm, supportive, and non-judgemental space where you can be yourself and feel heard. 

Life can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or questioning why we keep finding ourselves in the same situations. Together, we can gently explore the patterns that may be influencing your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and experiences. With greater understanding come the opportunity to make choices that feel right for you and support lasting personal growth. 

I work with adults facing a range of challenges, including anxiety, low mood, trauma, loss, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem and life transitions. Every person is different so I tailor our work to your individual needs, giving you autonomy and moving at a pace that feels comfortable for you. 

Qualifications 

1. MA in Psychodynamic Counselling
2. BSc in Psychology.
3. Professional Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status.
4. Online and Telephone Counselling
5. Certificate in Couples Counselling
6. Supervision in the helping profession.

Counselling sessions are 50 minutes long and can be in-person or ONLINE, depending on your needs.

Adults and Teenagers (over 18 yrs)

Psychodynamic therapy is a form of in-depth talk therapy that aims to bring unconscious or deeply buried thoughts and feelings to the conscious mind so that repressed experiences and emotions, often from childhood, can be brought to the surface and examined.

Educational & Social Care Supervision

I also offer reflective supervision for school staff and social workers who are working with complex cases and need additional support to reflect upon the dynamics of their workload to ensure they are working efficiently by understanding the conscious and unconscious needs of the children/ families they support. Depending on your caseload, it is suggested we meet for one hour a month as a minimum. The case and direction of the discussion are chosen by the supervisee, who is then guided to examine their thoughts and feelings about the case and use this awareness to serve the client better. This service can be offered online using the Zoom platform or face-to-face sessions in my consultancy office. 

What to Expect

Once you send an enquiry, I’ll email back to invite you to a consultation. This first meeting lasts up to 90 minutes and costs £100. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other, talk about what’s brought you to therapy, discuss your goals, and see if my approach feels right for you. During this session, we’ll also complete any necessary paperwork, go over fees, and plan how we might arrange regular sessions if you choose to continue.

If we both feel comfortable moving forward, the next step is your first therapy session. This session will focus more deeply on your current situation and background, including family and childhood experiences, which often help reveal patterns in your life. Feeling nervous or unsure at this stage is completely normal. You’ll be encouraged to speak at your own pace, with no pressure to share more than you’re ready for. Over time, you’ll lead the conversation, and I’ll listen carefully, helping you explore connections between past and present experiences.

At the end of the first session, we’ll check in about how you felt and whether you want to continue. If you decide to keep going, we can agree on either open-ended therapy with no fixed end date or a set number of sessions.

Short term therapy usually lasts 8 to 20 sessions, focusing on specific goals or challenges and offering practical support within a set timeframe. Long term therapy is open-ended, allowing deeper exploration of emotional patterns and life experiences for lasting personal growth.