Michaela Bisogno
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Asking for help may be one of the most courageous steps you take in your life, so it is important to find the right therapist for you. With over 20 years experience supporting young people and adults through their most challenging times, I offer a safe, confidential, approachable and professional Person-centred space in which to explore the issues that have brought you to seek help. I believe we are all our own experts but sometimes feel too lost or overwhelmed to be able to find a way forward. My role is to help rediscover and develop your inner strength and resources: and to help facilitate your process in finding the best way forward for you.
About Me
My own personal history was complex and challenging from a young age, which has provided me with a strong understanding of some of the difficulties my clients bring. Working through and overcoming these experiences, and 20+ years of working and training in a variety of therapeutic services has helped me develop a broad and rich practice base from which to help you find your way through your current difficulties. In this way I will accompany you on your journey cultivating a clearer, brighter, more confident self and future.
How Counselling Can help
I am a Person-centred Integrative counsellor, which means that I believe no matter how lost, anxious or depressed we feel, we are still our own experts. We all have our own answers but sometimes need help to find them. Counselling can support in many ways. Having a fully trained professional to confide in and share life's troubles with can help empower us to take action to effect positive change; being heard and valued in itself can be enormously powerful in helping us listen to ourselves - to find what we really need and want. Employing the core conditions of empathy, authenticity and congruence, attention and time, will help you make sense of, and find meaning in, events and feelings which have become overwhelming.
Counselling can help by providing individual authentic support and encouragement to nurture a greater understanding of your true self, and to identify and work on your core needs. The power of someone being there, genuinely caring and listening to you and your difficulties, can provide vital space and opportunity for you to think more clearly; reduce anxiety, pain and stress; improve self-esteem and self-confidence; develop ways to come to terms with loss and injustice; make better decisions; learn new coping strategies; connect with others; improve self-compassion and discover yourself. By identifying and working with each persons self-knowledge, strengths and courage, as well as difficulties, we are able to restore optimism, emotional balance and improved well-being.
What to expect in your first session
Getting started with counselling can often be the hardest part of the therapeutic journey, so I offer an initial free 25 minute consultation, in which to explore a little about what is going on for you. I will ask you about what has brought you to counselling, and anything that has been helpful, and /or less helpful so far. It provides the opportunity for me to learn about you and you to ask any questions you have about therapy, me, my approach and anything else relevant for you; and to see if I am the right therapist for you.
My approach is fundamentally Person-Centred, but integrates Existential; Compassion-Focused and Mindfulness theories and practices; I have also attended training in Nature-Based Psychotherapy, so offer outdoor nature-based therapy for those interested. I have trained in a variety of approaches including Solution Focused and CBT, which can also be useful for managing our emotions, developing coping strategies and making life changes. At times, where useful and desirable I will invite the use of creative methods. I am a holistic practitioner, that holds the quality and depth of the therapeutic relationship at the centre of our work together, ensuring your needs and wishes are at the centre of everything we do.
I originally began offering Online and Telephone counselling due to the Corona virus situation but realised I could offer greater accessibility by continuing to work online, so I currently offer remote sessions - via Zoom and telephone - as well as face to face counselling at The Consulting Centre in Westbourne; and outdoor sessions at a variety of locations in the BCP area - please contact me for further details.
BACP no: 384654
Young People's Counselling
As well as working with adults, I have specialised in working with young people for about 20 years, initially as a generic youth worker, and then as a specialist health advisor for Connexions, where I started with working with young people with complex and multiple issues, often mental health related, but also due to family dysfunction, loss, substance misuse and exploitation. I have since worked in Specialist education, mental health and family support services. And for the last 5 years, have been providing counselling services at a YP online counselling service, and at 2 universities. I am a qualified Youth Worker and Connexions Personal Advisor.
Ecotherapy - Nature-Based counselling
There is an increasing body of evidence demonstrating how being in and interacting with the natural world can benefit our mental health, as well as physical well-being. From Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) to horticulture and animal-assisted therapies, people are discovering the curative impact of our natural world. I offer nature-cased counselling - 'walk and talk' therapy - at a variety of locations in the BCP area. We walk at your pace and can stop or sit when or if you prefer; I also have an allotment that I offer sessions at when appropriate for the individual.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (2018, Iron Mill College)
- Diploma in Higher Education in Youth & Community Studies (2007, Greenwich University)
- Certificate in Supervision Studies (2005, Christ Church University College, Kent)
Diploma for Connexions Personal Advisors (2005, Christ Church University College, Kent) - Certificate in Humanistic counselling (1999, Christ Church University College, Canterbury)
- Online Counselling proficiency Certificate (2020, OCST)
- Certificate in Nature-based Psychotherapy (2019)
- BA(Hons) Social Anthropology (1996, University of Kent at Canterbury)
- Rape Crisis Helpline Volunteer training (1995, EKRL)
- Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused therapy.
Throughout the years I have attended and completed considerable continuous professional development courses, events and conferences, and maintained up to date Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding; Domestic Abuse; Protective Behaviours and Resilience Building; and Drug and Alcohol Awareness training.
I have worked in a broad variety of Services and Sectors with a diverse range of clients with a broad spectrum of difficulties. I started out at east Kent Rape Line as a Helpline Volunteer in 1996 and went on to work in Supported Accommodation, Homeless services, Addiction Services, a prison, Connexions as a Health Advisor; Social Services Family Support; Mental Health in Schools projects; Kooth young people's information, advice and Counselling Support; University Counselling Services; Dorset Mind Your Head and the Family Counselling Trust. As well as a being in Private Practice, I work as a University Student Mental Health Mentor and for an EAP
BACP no: 384654
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Young People's Counselling
Ecotherapy - walk and talk; horticultural
Student Mental Health and Counselling
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Counselling is £60 per session
Ecotherapy is £60 per session
Concessions available
When I work
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Monday-Friday mornings & afternoons
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
Occasional Saturday appointments by request
All initial appointments are online or by telephone.
Further information
I currently offer online and telephone services only
I have considerable experience of working with Young People, as well as adults, so offer counselling for individuals aged 13+ years of age.
I hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate which is updated regularly.
