About Melanie

Listening to what isn’t always said

I am Melanie MacDonald—an author, lived-experience speaker and young-person mentor.

For more than 30 years, I have worked alongside children, young people and families, particularly those navigating school difficulties, additional needs, emotional distress, challenging circumstances and experiences that are not always easy to put into words.

I hold a First-Class Honours degree in Supporting Young People and have extensive professional experience in pastoral and safeguarding leadership, school attendance, emotional and behavioural support, trauma-informed practice and multi-agency working.

Throughout my career, I have learned that behaviour rarely tells us the whole story.

Behind withdrawal, anger, avoidance, anxiety or difficulty attending school, there is often a young person who feels overwhelmed, misunderstood or unable to explain what is happening inside them.

My approach is rooted in curiosity rather than judgement.

I believe in building relationships before introducing interventions, listening before trying to solve and recognising that small steps can represent enormous progress.

My lived experience

I am also a survivor of childhood abuse and complex trauma.

My book, Send Someone to Love Me, is an honest account of survival, silence and the long, non-linear journey towards healing.

My lived experience does not replace professional knowledge—and my professional experience does not make me a therapist. Together, however, they have given me a deep understanding of what it can mean to feel unseen, unheard or defined by what has happened to you.

I do not believe people need to be fixed.

I believe they need to be met with honesty, compassion and care—and given the opportunity to discover their own voice, strengths and way forward.

My work

My work now brings together three connected areas:

Young-person mentoring

Through Someone in Their Corner, I provide independent, relationship-based mentoring for young people aged 11–18 who may be struggling with school, confidence, emotional regulation or everyday life.

Lived-experience speaking

I speak openly about childhood abuse, complex trauma, survival and healing, helping professionals understand the lasting human impact behind the language of safeguarding, adversity and trauma.

Writing and resources

Through my book and practical resources, I create compassionate, accessible materials for survivors, parents, carers and professionals.

Everything I do is connected by one principle:

Listen to what isn’t always said.

Because understanding should come before trying to fix.