MELISSA DUNLOP, PHD
My therapeutic approach is relationally based, grounded in psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions, and informed by developmental psychology, neuroscience, and psychosomatic thinking. This broad theoretical base enables me to use what feels fitting from different perspectives and work with each client according to their need. I consider psychotherapy to be an artful process; arts theories and practices underpin my understanding of how new thinking arises - that is, how change is generated through the creative-relational engagement of client and practitioner.
I offer warmth, humour, a playful imagination and non-judgmental open-mindedness, allowing you space to set the agenda and to use the therapeutic relationship to reflect upon and learn about your own life experiences and psychological processes in ways that are meaningful to you.
ONLINE PRACTICE
Online psychotherapy has become commonplace since the pandemic, allowing rapid development and understanding around the practical and theoretical adjustments that are needed to make it work well. Working online allows you to have relational continuity if you travel frequently, have mobility challenges, time limitations, or are physically located where there isn't an experienced therapist nearby.
I try to ensure that my clients' experiences are optimised by creating a safe and personable online atmosphere, where we can achieve a good enough sense of human presence and connection to allow therapeutic work to take place in spite of our physical separation.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Diploma in Creative Supervision (London College of Psychodrama)
PhD (University of Edinburgh, Centre for Creative-Relational Inquiry)
MA Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (Bath Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Middlesex University)
MSc Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology (Anna Freud Centre and University College London)
BSc Hons Experimental Psychology (University College London)
Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling Skills (Westminster Pastoral Foundation)
UKCP Registered Practitioner working in private practice since 2010. Last reaccredited October 2020
BCPC Affiliated Member Approved therapist for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists
ACADEMIC, RESEARCH AND TRAINING
I work independently as a qualitative researcher and am engaged in various creative and collaborative projects with academic, arts, and arts-based educators. Some of these are open to participants who are keen to learn through facilitated collaborative research inquiry processes. For more information see The Interpersonal.
I am a Psychotherapy Research Tutor at Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling.
Previously, I have been Course Tutor at (Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling), a Teaching Fellow at University of Edinburgh and practiced as a trainee psychotherapist within the Community Mental Health Services team at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Mendus, A., Kirkpatrick, D., Laidler, C., Speedy, J., Dunlop, M., Gallant, M., Sakellariadis, A., Wyatt, J., & Wyatt, T. (2022). Remembering Sue: Last Writes. Qualitative Inquiry, 28(8-9), 917-930.
Collaborating author in D. Kirkpatrick, S. Porter, J. Speedy & J. Wyatt (ed.s) (2021). Artful Collaborative Inquiry: Making and Writing Creative, Collaborative Research. London: Routledge.
Dunlop, M. with Del Negro, G. de Munck, K., Gale, K., Mackay, S., Price, M., Sakellariadis, A., Soler, G, Speedy, J. & van Hove, G. (2020) ‘Something Happened in the Room: Conceptualising intersubjectivation’. International Review of Qualitative Research. Special Issue: Activism and/in the Academy.
Dunlop, M (2019). ‘Like the Moon Rising: Standing in the Brexit Dawn’. International Review of Qualitative Inquiry. Special Issue: Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of the Global Right: Qualitative Researchers Respond. Spring 2019, Vol. 12 issue 1, pages 17-26.
PERSONAL
I live with my family and various cats who sometimes appear in online sessions. I love cooking, reading, music and the arts, long meandering walks and adventures. I write.