Dr Melanie Gunning

Melanie Gunning

Clinical Psychologist

melaniegunning@shorepsychology.co.uk

“I bring a warm, open heart to the therapeutic process and prioritise building and earning trust in therapy. I am a trauma therapist trained in a range of trauma-focussed treatments to support self-understanding and mental health recovery. I work with people experiencing a wide-range of difficulties and I specialise in perinatal and infant mental health for difficulties related to fertility journeys, loss, pregnancy, birth, and in the time following birth. I work collaboratively with clients to agree a focus for our work together which can range from direct mental health interventions to supporting relationship building between parents and their babies. My own history means I am passionate about creating safe, holding spaces while people find their way to knowing what they might choose to keep, learn, and grow from, and what they can now let go of.”

I have 15 years of experience working in NHS settings with people experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma reactions to difficult life experiences. I have worked in specialist trauma settings for people who have experienced trauma and abuse, as well as in maternity and neonatal, and parent-infant relationship specialisms. In my longer history I have worked in academic research in the field of developmental psychology and mental health.

I have a special interest and specific skill set for supporting people who have experienced difficult fertility, pregnancy, birth and neonatal journeys as well as supporting the professionals who work in these settings.

Clinical Experience

Conditions I work with

  • Anxiety, panic, and perinatal anxiety in particular
  • Depression and low self-esteem
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including perinatal OCD
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD

Therapies I offer

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)]
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Neonatal Behavioural Observation (NBO)
  • Video Interactive Guidance (VIG)

Qualifications and Training

  • DClinPsych, University of Edinburgh, 2016
  • PhD, University of Reading, 2005
  • BSC(hons), University of Edinburgh, 1996

Professional Membership and Registrations

I am a registered member of the HCPC (Registration No: PYL33984)
and EMDR-UK.