Michael Thomas
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
About me
Hi, my name is Mike. Welcome to my profile.
Perhaps you’ve spent weeks, months or longer feeling that something isn’t right, you’ve been worrying more than usual, feeling low, up late at night when it feels like you’re the only person awake in the world. Perhaps you've thought that something might be wrong with you and if only you could make some sense of what’s happening for you. Maybe you’ve sought support before but didn’t feel like you were understood, or you just didn’t find it helpful.
As your therapist, I intend to build a genuine connection through taking time to understand you better and what makes you, uniquely you.
I don't think labels, medical jargon or focusing on diagnoses alone is helpful. Instead, I am interested about the difficulties and challenges you face and how they are affecting you with genuine human connection alongside professional expertise.
It's important that as many different people as possible feel comfortable and included when we work together. I have a particular passion with working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and people who are neurodiverse, however, whether you identify in this way or are more generally trying to understand yourself more, you can expect that I’ll approach you with openness, sincerity and care.
When we work together, we'll explore how your past experiences, present challenges and hopes for the future are all connected. We'll make sense of what is happening for you and what's getting in the way of the future you want to build. You'll get to understand yourself better that creates meaningful lasting change.
I offer online therapy across the UK. This means that we can meet from a space where you feel most comfortable. My hope is that your sessions remain accessible to you in a way that naturally fits into the demands of daily life.
You may be wondering about my experience and how this may benefit you. Due to my background in suicide prevention and NHS crisis services, you can expect that I will respond with curiosity without rushing to provide answers or solutions which sound too good to be true.
Due to my experience of working with people affected by interpersonal trauma, such as rape, sexual abuse or violence, I understand how important it is to take things at your pace without rushing you to talk about difficult things before you’re ready.
If you've recognised yourself in some of what I've written, you don't need to know exactly what you want from therapy before getting in touch. We can begin by having a conversation about what's brought you here, what you're hoping for, and whether we feel like a good fit to work together.
Finding the right therapist is an important decision, and I encourage you to choose someone you feel comfortable with. If you think I might be that person, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
Level 6 Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)
BSc in Psychology with Counselling- Currently studying
Experience and Further Info:
I am a qualified Integrative counsellor. In real terms, this means that I think about how your past experiences are still influencing you in the present, I explore your present challenges and look at what barriers are preventing you from working towards your aspirations. I am a Registered member of the BACP, which means I have received a high standard of training, supervision and demonstrated a commitment towards professional and ethical practice.
Alongside my private practice, I work for a suicide prevention charity, supporting men experiencing a mental health crisis. Before this, I worked in NHS mental health crisis services and have experiencing of working with people who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, and interpersonal trauma.
These experiences mean that I am experienced in working with people who are in significant distress, facing anxiety, low mood or have experienced traumatic events.
Alongside my counselling training, I am currently studying a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling, in accreditation with the British Psychological Society.
Member organisations
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
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£70 per session.
Concessions available for counselling students and key worders: £60.
When I work
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I work online via Zoom on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings.
I aim to get back to all enquiries within 24 hours.
Further information
I welcome enquiries from adults in the UK. I aim to reply to enquiries within 24 hours.
I offer a free, 20 minute introductory call. This is an opportunity for us to discuss what may have brought you to therapy, answer any questions you may have, and explore whether working together feels like the right fit. I'll also explain how I work and what you can expect from therapy.
Many people find an introductory call useful, as it provides space to ask questions and meet your therapist before deciding to begin therapy.
I appreciate that contacting someone regarding counselling can be daunting. Getting to this point may have already been a big step.
I would like you to know that my priority is to encourage you to find a therapist you feel comfortable with and who is best placed to support you. If, after speaking we don't feel that I'm the right therapist to help, I'll discuss this with you openly and try to explore other options that could be helpful.
If you'd like to explore whether I might be the right therapist for you, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
