Michelle Spendlove

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Dip.Couns, MBACP - Higher Ground Counselling
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Huddersfield, HD1
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hi, I'm Michelle, and I'm a qualified counsellor/psychotherapist, passionate about helping people who want to help themselves. I'm a Registered Member of the BACP, and my homely therapy room is based near Huddersfield town centre. I also offer video counselling, depending on your preference.

I'm an Integrative counsellor, which means I use a range of counselling techniques taken from various talking therapy models so that I can support you in the best way possible. Together, we will explore your thoughts and feelings to find the root cause of your issues and begin the healing process.

Many of the enquiries I receive are from people who have solely had CBT therapy in the past, which has helped them with anxiety management techniques for dealing with day-to-day life, but not gotten to the bottom of the issues for the clients to gain enough self-awareness to make long-term changes.

This is why my service is as individual as each client, and I tailor my approach depending on what each client needs. I operate my practice with compassion, by viewing you as a person - not a 'patient'.

My clients tell me that my down-to-earth, open-minded demeanor makes me very relatable, helping them to feel at ease enough to fully open up.  I attribute this not only to my years of psychotherapeutic training but also to my past unusual life experiences, which have helped me be completely non-judgemental in my work.  I strive to provide a service that balances both humanness and professionalism.

It was receiving therapy for my past traumas which inspired me over a decade ago to change career so I could help those in similar situations. Counselling encouraged me to thoroughly examine my life and my values, giving me the courage and tools needed to make the necessary changes to become 'unstuck'. It was such a relief to feel understood finally and to be able to envisage living a fulfilling life and a contented future. Counselling changed my life, and now I enjoy putting my all into helping others change theirs. 

Having been on the other side of the room before, I understand how nerve-wracking beginning the process can be. That's why I pride myself on the non-clinical, truly empathic, and relaxing feel that my sessions provide in my Private Practice. You can rest assured that you will always be accepted for who you are and never judged on what you disclose in therapy. Each session is directed at your own pace, so you remain completely in control throughout. You will never be pushed to discuss anything you don't feel ready to talk about until you feel fully at ease.  I'm here to share the burden with you, to really listen, and to support you when you feel stuck.

I work with a huge range of issues, particularly issues including Anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and family issues. I am also a GSRD-knowledgeable therapist (Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship diversity).  I work with clients of any gender, race, and faith. I am an LGBTQ+ friendly, sex-worker and alternative lifestyles allied practitioner. I am also a professional member of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy. I am recreational substance aware and offer a safe space for clients to explore and examine their personal experiences (Although I do not offer specialist addiction counselling).

If one of the problems listed on my profile in the ‘issues’ section is something you feel you would like support with, I offer a completely confidential counselling service.

Over the years I have collected many testimonials from clients who have completed a course of therapy. These can be viewed on my website, www.HigherGroundCounselling.co.uk along with a photograph of my counselling room and further information about the service.

Thanks, Michelle 

Recent client feedback:

  • Michelle gave me the tools to enable me to begin to turn my life around. It was a very positive, enabling experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to others.
  • Michelle is so approachable and provides a warm, safe environment for talking. She succeeds in making you feel good about yourself and encourages open discussion about topics which have been closed away for too long. I particularly appreciated 'explanations' given by Michelle. I think that's what helped me the most. Friends have commented upon the difference in me too.
  • I only went for two sessions, but I found them so helpful! Each time after seeing Michelle I felt refreshed. I realised I was progressively shaking off some of the weight on my shoulders. Michelle is professional and friendly and makes you feel comfortable.
  • Michelle was the second counsellor I met, the first I just hadn’t seemed to gel with and knew the relationship with my counsellor was key to the sessions being a success. I instantly felt at ease in Michelle’s presence and the environment felt a safe place. 

Training, qualifications & experience

  • BACP accredited Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
  • Professional membership of the IPT (Institute of Psychedelic Therapy).
  • A member of BACP's Workplace Division
  • Qualification in Counselling skills
  • Qualification in Counselling Concepts
  • Diploma in counselling children and adolescents (Although I now only focus on clients over 18)
  • Awareness of child abuse and neglect certificate
  • Certificate in autism awareness.
  • Certificates in working with neurodiversity 
  • COSRT accredited course - Being GSRD-Aware (Gender and relationship diversity)
  • Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Before setting up my private practice, I counselled at a local college; and also a registered young person's charity.
  • I am currently studying towards a Diploma in Joint life coaching and counselling.
  • Professional member of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy.
  • EMBARK Open Access Certificate in Psychedelic facilitation.
  • Certificate in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) 
  • Trained in delivering solution-focused Postnatal Depression therapy programs
  • Trained in delivering solution-focused Understanding Anger therapy programs
  • Safeguarding vulnerable adults - Level 1
  • Safeguarding adults - level 2
  • Bereavement training certificate with Health Assured
  • Relationship counselling training certificate with Health Assured
  • DBS checked
  • As well as running my Private Practice, I work as an EAP affiliate counsellor for Health Hero, PAM Assist, Health Assured, and CiC Wellbeing.
  • I am recognised by Vitality Health (Please enquire with them before booking, if they are your insurer and you are hoping to have counselling paid for by them)

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).

Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.

Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.

All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.

Accredited register membership

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).

This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

I do not work with children and adolescents, or couples.

I operate on a one-to-one basis with persons over the age of 18 only.

Photos & videos

Fees

£44.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Trainee counsellors

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Health Assured
  • Vitality

Additional information

Introductory/Assessment session £29
This is a 50-minute session and will entail getting know each other briefly, going through a small amount of paperwork; and having a chat about how the counselling process works and may benefit you. This is your opportunity to have a ‘taster’ session, and for us to establish whether I’m the right counsellor for your needs.

Payment for this session must be made prior to our meeting, via bank transfer & is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.


Further individual sessions £44
Each session takes place in my homely counselling room in Huddersfield (Or via video call via WhatsApp; and lasts for 50 minutes.

One-off session £66

A one-off session is exactly how it sounds - you just attend once. These sessions are for an hour and a half; and are intended for those who feel that they would just like to feel supported in 'offloading' to someone who can give them non-biased support. These sessions are also good for those who feel that they need to get something off their chest confidentially that they've never felt able to talk to anyone about.

You are welcome to get in touch by email, telephone, via the form on this website, text message, or via the contact page on my website.

Thanks,
Michelle
www.HigherGroundCounselling.co.uk

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Evening sessions are online only.

Regrettably, I cannot work weekends.

Further information

There is pay and display parking at the front of the property, although many clients prefer to park in Sainsbury's, which is a very short walk away.

I regret that there is no disabled access.

Quay Street, Huddersfield, HD1

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

The room is accessible up two short flights of stairs. There is a toilet in the waiting room downstairs.

Online platforms

Whatsapp

Social