Anna Melnik
Counsellor & Integrative Counsellor
Verified by It's Complicated
Available for new clients
I work with people who feel out of sync with those around them. Many of my clients are neurodivergent, expats, or members of the LGBT+ community.
I specialize in:
At a glance
Last active
Experienced on It's ComplicatedOver 3 years and 330+ sessions on It's Complicated
Note from AnnaI work with people who feel out of sync with those around them.
Usually responds within 2 hours
About me
I am a schema therapist, and I often work with people who feel a little out of step with those around them. Many of my clients are neurodivergent, expats, or members of the LGBT+ community. I try to meet each person where they are, offering as much support and structure as feels helpful, and adjusting as the work unfolds. For me, therapy is a collaborative process, not a one-way instruction.
I take a respectful, non-pathologising approach, seeing symptoms as meaningful responses that once served a protective purpose. Rather than trying to fix or remove them, I aim to explore what they are protecting and what might help now. I believe change comes through a mix of thinking, feeling, doing, and experiencing, and that it takes time and a sense of safety in the relationship.
I value equality in the work and place importance on your autonomy. I don’t see myself as the authority on your life or offer quick fixes. Instead, I provide a space to reflect, understand, and find ways forward at a pace that feels right for you.
I have over 1,800 hours of training in counselling and coaching, with ongoing professional development, and I receive regular supervision from three supervisors. I have seven years of personal psychotherapy and am a member of the International Society of Schema Therapy. My training includes schema therapy and psychodynamic therapy, and I am currently completing a qualification in integrative counselling and coaching.
My background in Maths and Physics, along with experience in IT, shapes the way I think systemically about patterns and relationships. I am dyslexic myself and have a spiky profile, which gives me insight into working with neurodivergent clients. Having lived as an expat twice, I also understand the challenges of navigating different cultural contexts. Outside of work, I am a wife and mum of two.
I take a respectful, non-pathologising approach, seeing symptoms as meaningful responses that once served a protective purpose. Rather than trying to fix or remove them, I aim to explore what they are protecting and what might help now. I believe change comes through a mix of thinking, feeling, doing, and experiencing, and that it takes time and a sense of safety in the relationship.
I value equality in the work and place importance on your autonomy. I don’t see myself as the authority on your life or offer quick fixes. Instead, I provide a space to reflect, understand, and find ways forward at a pace that feels right for you.
I have over 1,800 hours of training in counselling and coaching, with ongoing professional development, and I receive regular supervision from three supervisors. I have seven years of personal psychotherapy and am a member of the International Society of Schema Therapy. My training includes schema therapy and psychodynamic therapy, and I am currently completing a qualification in integrative counselling and coaching.
My background in Maths and Physics, along with experience in IT, shapes the way I think systemically about patterns and relationships. I am dyslexic myself and have a spiky profile, which gives me insight into working with neurodivergent clients. Having lived as an expat twice, I also understand the challenges of navigating different cultural contexts. Outside of work, I am a wife and mum of two.
I speak:
EnglishRussianUkrainian
Location:
London, United Kingdom
Media Gallery
Approach
Treatment Approaches
CounsellingRecommended for those who want to talk through their emotional challenges with a professional in a safe, supportive environment.
Integrative therapy Recommended for those who prefer a flexible approach that combines different therapies to meet their unique needs.
Schema therapyRecommended for those who want to break out of negative patterns or "schemas" that they developed early in life and keep repeating.
I offer two formats of counselling, depending on what you are looking for.
Long-term, open-ended therapy is suitable if you want to work with long-standing emotional difficulties, such as negative self-perception, repeated relationship patterns, or understanding how childhood experiences continue to shape your present life. This format allows for depth, flexibility, and free exploration, without pressure to achieve results within a set timeframe.
Short-term counselling is a time-limited contract of 13 sessions, focused on a specific, clearly defined issue — for example, a current life transition, work-related stress or burnout, or a particular relationship difficulty. This approach offers structure, focus, and practical support within a clear framework.
We can also start with a single consultation, with no further commitment required.
I base my work primarily on schema therapy, which helps identify patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and emotions that contribute to feelings of being stuck. We work with all aspects of human experience — emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and experiences — to break free from the influence of childhood patterns and develop more flexible ways of responding to life’s challenges.
For existential questions, such as those related to death, life’s meaning, choice, loneliness, or chronic conditions, I draw on ideas from existential psychotherapy.
In certain cases, when a specific goal needs to be achieved, I also incorporate coaching techniques.
I naturally value structure and clarity, and I’m happy to bring structure into our sessions. At the same time, I believe therapy should provide space for all your feelings and ideas. Together, we’ll find the balance that works best for you.
I work with self-motivated adults who wish to explore their experiences and make changes in their lives. Therapy is most effective when the desire to change originates from within you, rather than being imposed by someone else.
Long-term, open-ended therapy is suitable if you want to work with long-standing emotional difficulties, such as negative self-perception, repeated relationship patterns, or understanding how childhood experiences continue to shape your present life. This format allows for depth, flexibility, and free exploration, without pressure to achieve results within a set timeframe.
Short-term counselling is a time-limited contract of 13 sessions, focused on a specific, clearly defined issue — for example, a current life transition, work-related stress or burnout, or a particular relationship difficulty. This approach offers structure, focus, and practical support within a clear framework.
We can also start with a single consultation, with no further commitment required.
I base my work primarily on schema therapy, which helps identify patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and emotions that contribute to feelings of being stuck. We work with all aspects of human experience — emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and experiences — to break free from the influence of childhood patterns and develop more flexible ways of responding to life’s challenges.
For existential questions, such as those related to death, life’s meaning, choice, loneliness, or chronic conditions, I draw on ideas from existential psychotherapy.
In certain cases, when a specific goal needs to be achieved, I also incorporate coaching techniques.
I naturally value structure and clarity, and I’m happy to bring structure into our sessions. At the same time, I believe therapy should provide space for all your feelings and ideas. Together, we’ll find the balance that works best for you.
I work with self-motivated adults who wish to explore their experiences and make changes in their lives. Therapy is most effective when the desire to change originates from within you, rather than being imposed by someone else.
Experience
8 years in practice330+ sessions on It's ComplicatedOver 3 years at It's Complicated
2025 - today: volunteer counsellor at Change Grow Live Bromley (UK)
2019 - today: counsellor with private practice
2019: practice in children's oncology rehabilitation centre "Russian Cornfield"
2018-2019: helpline Yaroslavna of Insitute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis
2019 - today: counsellor with private practice
2019: practice in children's oncology rehabilitation centre "Russian Cornfield"
2018-2019: helpline Yaroslavna of Insitute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis
Education
2025: Acquired the status of a Certified Schema Therapist.
2024-now: PGDip "Integrative Counselling and Coaching" by University of East London
2022: Course Certificate "Schema Therapy" by Paul Kasyanik, 48 hours.
2018-2019: Course Ceritifcate "Development of attachment relationships in childhood" by Natalia Pleshkova in Moscow, 78 hours.
2017-2020: PGDip in counselling, psychological correction, and psychotherapy from Institute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis in Moscow, 1699 hours.
2002-2008: MSc in applied Mathematics and Physics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
2024-now: PGDip "Integrative Counselling and Coaching" by University of East London
2022: Course Certificate "Schema Therapy" by Paul Kasyanik, 48 hours.
2018-2019: Course Ceritifcate "Development of attachment relationships in childhood" by Natalia Pleshkova in Moscow, 78 hours.
2017-2020: PGDip in counselling, psychological correction, and psychotherapy from Institute of Practical Psychology and Psychoanalysis in Moscow, 1699 hours.
2002-2008: MSc in applied Mathematics and Physics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Services
Individual Session
€80 • 50 min • Online
Individual Session
€80 • 50 min • Online
Individual Session
€110 • 1 hr 15 min • Online
Insurances
Private Pay
At a glance
Last active
Experienced on It's ComplicatedOver 3 years and 330+ sessions on It's Complicated
Note from AnnaI work with people who feel out of sync with those around them.
Usually responds within 2 hours
Next available: Mar 19