Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Certification
Languages
Timeline
AdministrativeAssistant
Melanie  Padron Golding

Melanie Padron Golding

Mental Health Counsellor
Coventry,West Midlands

Summary

Compassionate and dedicated Mental Health Counsellor with 15 years of experience delivering counselling, coaching and mentoring services to diverse populations. Successful at helping clients unravel physical, mental and emotional layers to identify root causes of problems and develop strong coping skills for diverse scenarios. Proficient in developing and implementing goal orientated treatment plans to help clients achieve their mental health goals. Strong ability for listening, empathising, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Overview

15
15

Years of Experience

Work History

Mental Health Counsellor

BetterHelp
06.2022 - Current


  • Remote work with clients worldwide
  • Managing practice of 20+ clients per week
  • Perform client assessments and develop treatment plans
  • Document client progress and store them in confidential files
  • Provide external resources when appropriate
  • Provide worksheets for ongoing treatment and development
  • Safeguard clients and confidentially communicate with external professionals as needed
  • Make necessary referrals to community resources
  • Provide goal-orientated therapy
  • Encourage communication
  • Methods for therapy: live chat, phone and video calls
  • Successfully engage with clients and effectively treat people online
  • Demonstrate respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed
  • Identify issues, analyze information and help client find solutions to problems

Private Practice Mental Health Counselor

Self-employed
02.2010 - Current


  • Assess to identify presenting concerns accurately and develop an appropriate course of action
  • Establish a welcoming therapeutic environment that encourages open communication
  • Treat clients experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distresses, or challenging situations
  • Relieve suffering by listening to clients and help find solutions
  • Work in-person and online
  • Deliver person-centred counselling using core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard
  • Provide tailored treatment plans
  • Develop strong rapport with clients, cultivate trusting relationships that are fostered through the therapeutic process
  • Improve client coping skills through the implementation of therapy tools such as, mindfulness, stress management, anger management, etc.
  • Provide client worksheets
  • Maintain case notes and documentation to track client progress over time accurately
  • Handle and store sensitive data confidentially
  • Provide crisis intervention when necessary to ensure client safety and appropriate follow-up care
  • Continuously expand professional knowledge by attending relevant workshops, conferences, and training events in the mental health field
  • Utilize various therapeutic modalities such as person-centered therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy to meet the unique needs of each client
  • Manage a diverse caseload including clients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related issues, relationship concerns ensuring timely progress toward treatment goals
  • Assist clients in setting realistic goals and developing actionable steps toward achieving personal growth and improved mental health

Workshop Leader, Counsellor & Research Development

The Now Project
01.2021 - 01.2022


  • Delivered music production workshops for a local LGBT+ youth community group focusing on building self-esteem and confidence
  • Facilitated and coordinated the smooth running of music projects in conjunction with the Project Manager for young people aged between 14-and 25 years
  • I encouraged participants to engage in singing and songwriting
  • My roles were to coach, counsel, motivate, and animate to build on confidence through the arts
  • Responsible for facilitating the group and developing the management and research of the project
  • I provided a safe service delivered digitally, and the entire process was youth-led
  • I provided one-to-one counselling sessions for further support
  • This project was funded by the Arts Council, of which I had an active role in the application process
  • Central to my management duties, I provided reports on the project and the outcomes
  • Responsibilities included evaluation reports, management reports, surveys, and hosting podcasts on the project
  • Provided a counselling service through for young participants facing transgender challenges, sexual orientation, and difficulties arising from cultural and racial differences
  • Additional clients in this group experienced challenges with autism, ADHD, bipolar, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety
  • Collaborated with fellow facilitators to develop innovative training materials, resulting in improved participant retention rates
  • Conducted thorough evaluations of workshop effectiveness, implementing changes based on feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Established a supportive learning environment where participants felt comfortable sharing ideas and asking questions.
  • Consistently received positive feedback from participants on the clarity of instruction and overall value of workshops attended
  • Promoted a growth mindset among workshop attendees through encouraging open dialogue and constructive peer feedback during interactive activities
  • Developed strong relationships with industry partners to ensure up-to-date knowledge transfer in all workshop offering
  • Enhanced networking opportunities at workshops by fostering an inclusive atmosphere that encouraged collaboration between participants

Youth Engagement Support Worker

Ideas Test
01.2018 - 01.2021


  • Supported young people aged between 14 and 19 years who had a keen interest in music
  • Facilitated and supported young people to assist with their set targets and assignments on musical activities
  • Provided emotional support for personal challenges
  • Provide counsellingfor participants experiencing various issues, including home life, sexual orientation, gender dysphoria, low self-esteem, family and friendship conflicts, and school challenges
  • Assisted the groups with their music projects (songwriting, singing, technical)
  • Provided group work songwriting sessions and one-to-one work
  • Developed strong rapport with participants by consistently demonstrating respect, understanding, and genuine concern for their wellbeing
  • Helped clients manage and reach individual goals, supporting independent progression and social skills
  • Devised and implemented community-based programs to promote mental health awareness.
  • Implemented community outreach programs to promote mental health awareness
  • Facilitated group therapy sessions to help clients develop coping skills and improve communication

School Project Manager

Place2Be
01.2014 - 06.2017


  • Responsibilities included supporting the emotional well-being of the whole school community; children, parents, teachers and staff
  • I was responsible for running this project across three schools within the NetAcademies based in Harlow, Essex
  • Working across three school settings, I was heavily involved in building and maintaining relationships between school staff, teachers, parents, and children
  • Liaised with staff on counselling referrals (Teachers and Head of School)
  • Assessed and allocated children to their counsellors
  • Ensured the safeguarding and welfare of children in the school were promoted effectively
  • Coordinated a 'self-referral' counselling service for children during their lunch breaks
  • Attended and participated in regular meetings with the management team
  • Provided regular reports on the activity of the school project
  • Ensured that all casework records were kept confidential
  • Provided clinical supervision to trainee counsellors to enhance their skills and contribute to their overall performance
  • Reported safeguarding concerns and referred to external agencies when appropriate
  • Provided evaluation reports presented to stakeholders
  • Developed comprehensive project plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results
  • Developed strong relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in the team''s ability to deliver results
  • Facilitated change management processes within organizations by effectively communicating benefits of new systems or processes being introduced during projects
  • Created accurate budgets based on resource requirements, allowing for optimal allocation of funds across all aspects of the projects
  • Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals
  • Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
  • Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
  • Drafted project reports to identify successful outcomes, insights and future recommendations.
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
  • Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to line managers and stakeholders
  • Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution.
  • Reported regularly to managers on project budget, progress and technical problems.
  • Tracked project and team member performance closely to quickly intervene in mistakes or delays.

Education

Master of Music (MMus) - Music Education, Psychology And Composition

Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury, United Kingdom
07.2019

Bachelor of Arts - Counselling Degree

Middlesex University
London, United Kingdom
06.2012

Celta - Level 5 Certificate - Teaching English As A Second Language (ESL)

Cambridge University
Canterbury, United Kingdom
11.2020

Skills

  • Therapeutic Interventions
  • Confidential records
  • Strong clinical skills in person-centered therapy
  • Speak Spanish
  • Calm Under Pressure
  • Strong written and Verbal Communication
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Supervision and leadership
  • Ability to adapt
  • Building rapport
  • Facilitating counseling sessions

Affiliations

  • BACP - Registered Member 375433
  • Society of Authors - 00068343
  • BAPAM - British Association for Performing Arts Medicine
  • PRS for Music - (CAE/IPI)1091471073
  • The Ivor’s Academy – 29307
  • PPL for Artists - 0107692642
  • Musicians Union – 1014272

Certification

  • BACP - Licensed Mental Health Counsellor (375433)
  • Assessing and Formulating - 2014
  • Children's Emotional Wellbeing - 2014
  • Making endings with Children - 2014
  • Delivering Place2Talk -2014
  • Teach. Educate. Create -Arts facilitator Training Course - 2019
  • Kent Safeguarding Children Board - Basic Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Training - 2019

Languages

English
Native language
Spanish
Advanced
C1

Timeline

Mental Health Counsellor

BetterHelp
06.2022 - Current

Workshop Leader, Counsellor & Research Development

The Now Project
01.2021 - 01.2022

Youth Engagement Support Worker

Ideas Test
01.2018 - 01.2021

School Project Manager

Place2Be
01.2014 - 06.2017

Private Practice Mental Health Counselor

Self-employed
02.2010 - Current

Master of Music (MMus) - Music Education, Psychology And Composition

Canterbury Christ Church University

Bachelor of Arts - Counselling Degree

Middlesex University

Celta - Level 5 Certificate - Teaching English As A Second Language (ESL)

Cambridge University
Melanie Padron GoldingMental Health Counsellor