Michaela Murphy

** PLEASE NOTE I AM ON MY SUMMER BREAK (and also a digital break) FROM FRIDAY 10th AUGUST UNTIL TUESDAY 1st SEPTEMBER **

I'm a relationship therapist and 1:1 coach based in Hassocks, West Sussex, with a sixteen-year specialism in relationship therapy. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Relationship Therapy and am an accredited member of the NCPS (MNCPS Acc.). I work with couples and individuals — in person in my garden cabin, or online via Zoom.

You can work with me in two ways - Relationship Therapy or 1:1 Coaching:

Relationship Therapy

For couples and individuals navigating difficulty, uncertainty, or transition — whether that means rebuilding, transforming, or sometimes bringing a relationship to a considered and respectful close.

Not all therapists are trained to work with relationship dynamics. My specialism enables me to hold two people, two life stories, and the relationship between them, all at once.

For individuals seeking 1:1 relationship therapy, reasons for working with me vary: some examples are -  exploring a current relationship without a partner present, making sense of past relationship patterns, exploring difficulties forging relationships, processing the end of a relationship.

1:1 Coaching

For individuals wanting to focus on a specific question, decision, or block — not always relationship-related. This work tends to be shorter-term and more focused.

My coaching clients have:

— shifted creative blocks

— figured out next career steps

— got super clear about relationships

— challenged low self-esteem

— transformed negative self-beliefs

— tended to childhood wounds

You can read more at michaelamurphy.co.uk/coaching.

How I work

My approach is warm, collaborative, and therapeutically boundaried. I work dynamically — tracking patterns, making connections, paying attention to what sits beneath the words. Through honest, open exploration, I'll help you build a deep understanding of yourself and your relationships, so that you can make informed choices and create lasting change.

I've supported couples who want to stay together and do the meaningful work to get there. I've also supported couples where the relationship has reached its natural end — working towards as gentle, respectful, and carefully-considered a separation as possible.

Practical details

Sessions are available in person at my garden cabin in Hassocks, West Sussex, or via Zoom. I'm happy to mix and match face to face with online sessions — this works well for clients who travel or live further afield.

I offer daytime appointments, Tuesday to Friday.

Weekly sessions are committed to on the same day and time each week.

60-minute sessions: £90

Half-day intensives (3hrs): £300

Getting In Touch

The first step is an initial consultation (60 minutes - £90), which gives us both the chance to assess whether we'd like to work together.

If my approach speaks to you and you're ready to begin — I'd love to hear from you.

Please fill in my contact form: www.michaelamurphy.co.uk/contact
 

Some common issues for couples

• repetitive (cyclical) arguments
• communication difficulties
• loss of emotional / physical connection
• impact of parenthood
• separation and divorce
• cross cultural relationships
• affairs / betrayals
• empty nest re-adjustment
• pre-nuptial counselling
• impact of bereavement on relationships
• Difficulties with in-laws / step families

Some common issues for individuals

• indecision about whether to stay or leave a relationship
• history of unsatisfying relationships
• 'crossroads' decision making
• difficulties making / maintaining friendships
• commitment anxieties
• jealousy
• communication difficulties with parents / siblings
• cross cultural relationships
• low self-esteem
• impact of a bereavement on your relationships
• problematic professional relationships
• issues with trust

RELATIONSHIP THERAPY CLIENTS (Coaching clients please scroll down for session details / fees)

Initial consultation — £90

The first step is a 60-minute initial consultation. It gives us both the chance to hear more about what's brought you here, get a sense of how we work together, and decide whether we'd like to move forward.

Weekly sessions — £90

60-minute weekly sessions, held on the same day and time each week. I offer daytime appointments Tuesday to Friday, in person at my garden cabin in Hassocks or online via Zoom.

3hr Couples intensives — £300

A half-day block (3 hours) for couples wanting to go deeper or move through the early work more quickly. 

1:1 COACHING CLIENTS

60 minutes — £90

Sessions are booked ad hoc as needed  - these sessions are designed to be focused and short term — often clients need just one session, though some choose to book further sessions as new questions emerge.

3hr 1:1 Coaching Intensives — £300

For those who want a more spacious session, the 1:1 Coaching Intensive opens up a full half-day of exploration.

For more information please visit my website: www.michaelamurphy.co.uk

Some testimonials from my clients (all shared anonymously and with permission):

Myself and my partner came to Michaela at a very turbulent time in our relationship, where we were in absolute crisis...! Michaela held our (emotional) hands whilst we processed our new reality as a couple, and really held space for both of our range of emotions, week after week.

We have worked with couples therapists before, and the comparison was night and day. Michaela made us feel very comfortable, and she was able to really get us to understand each others point of view. She helped us to move forward and gave us hope. I couldn't speak more highly of her as a professional!

THERAPY CLIENT
 
Michaela has been wonderful with us both individually and as a married couple who knew we needed help with our relationship. She took us through a process that allowed us to address the issues and identify a way forward. As a result, we've both changed how we feel about each other and our future relationship. Plus, we now have the tools to identify issues and deal with them before they take us down a negative path.

Thanks to Michaela we are fully committed to building our future together and continuing our journey as a couple and a family.

THERAPY CLIENT
 
“This session was nothing short of exceptional. I was guided into deep emotional territory that felt uncomfortable yet profoundly healing. It wasn’t what I expected, but the trust I had in Michaela allowed me to explore my feelings freely. 

I felt seen and safe, and that’s what enabled me to experience such a deep emotional release. Michaela’s language was so thoughtful and precise, creating a space where I could connect with my inner self in a way I hadn’t before. 

It was a transformative experience.”

COACHING CLIENT
 
“When we walked into Michaela's warm and cosy space the first time, I was so broken, had nearly given up and wasn't sure where I would end up... wasn't sure if things in our marriage 'could' ever be different. After 38 years!!

Now after only a few sessions, they have changed. I have hope. And the change is fundamental and MASSIVE.

I really felt Michaela's calm, professional guidance has allowed me to be heard without judgement - for the first time really - to allow myself to be authentic and true and for my husband to hear and respond in a way I have longed for almost all my married life.

Michaela is a lovely person with a beautiful smile - she is someone I would have chosen to be a friend - except she's years younger than me and is a counsellor - but maybe when it's the right 'fit' that's what you should feel like.

I completely trust her judgement, her kindness, her experience. And it has taken years to find her...... So I would highly recommend her to anyone or any couple who feel - like I did - that we were probably too late and beyond help.

My only sadness is that I now don't really 'need' to see her because she has done such an incredible job!

Thank you for everything Michaela.”

THERAPY CLIENT
 
“Michaela’s positive and grounded presence put me at ease. I came into the session feeling overwhelmed and anxious, but as we talked my worries dissipated. 

Michaela is an expert in her field, and she guided and supported me to clarify what truly mattered and what felt right. 

A couple of weeks post-session, I’m happy to share that I’ve since been accepted onto a course, and invited to interview for an exciting new role. I can’t recommend these sessions highly enough.”

COACHING CLIENT
 
“Thank you greatly Michaela for our sessions we had together, I will forever treasure the clarity and the self belief from our discussions as a result, thank you! You have great patience, kindness and understanding, I will always appreciate the help you have given me x”

THERAPY CLIENT
 
"I felt completely safe and held by Michaela throughout the session. Her energy was calm, professional, and deeply intuitive, which helped my nervous system relax and allowed me to explore emotions I had never touched before.

She guided me to profound realisations about my relationship with my parents, helping me see past hurts with new compassion and understanding. 

Michaela’s guidance felt slow and deliberate, giving me all the space I needed to process and heal. It was a deeply magical and transformative experience and truly one of the most profound healings I’ve ever experienced."

COACHING CLIENT
 
“When I first came with my husband I felt sure we would divorce, now I realise that was such an unfounded fear. Counselling has definitely improved our relationship as a couple as well as individuals.”

THERAPY CLIENT
 
My wife and I always thought we were best placed to sort out our disagreements and issues. And we had successfully worked through some difficult patches. But we had hit a bit of a brick wall. Under Michaela's patient questioning and guidance we discovered new and constructive ways of communicating during difficult times, of better understanding our differences and of appreciating the other person's perspective. We began to enjoy the shared project of "doing better", appreciating the privilege we shared in our long and mostly very happy relationship. Michaela is an insightful, thoughtful and pleasant person. We are very glad to have met her.

THERAPY CLIENT
 
"I had one session with Michaela and BOOM my ideas were drawn out of me in the most chilled and natural way. 

Michaela safely held space for me to outpour my thoughts / words / feelings in a guided session. I knew the answers were in me and once I relaxed into the session I really got in to a flow and it became much clearer for me. I have gone from feeling woolly to having clarity in my creative business. 

It’s blown me away how much progress I made in a single session and I am so happy I signed up. I would highly recommend a session with Michaela and let her support you like she did me.”

COACHING CLIENT
 
“Michaela has been wonderful throughout our sessions. When I first spoke to her I was trying to make sense of some really challenging times. The way Michaela put our sessions together was so productive, focused and got to the root causes of everything we spoke about which helped me immensely to gain clarity and perspective. I always came away from every session with strategies to help which I was so valuable to me in everyday life. I cannot thank her enough for helping my mental wellness grow so much in such a short space of time. Thank you for everything!”
 
“Thank you for agreeing to assist my wife and I (especially me), during a very difficult time for my wife and I.

I spent every week over the past six months for an hour talking to you. Every minute of that hour was invaluable to me. Whether it was me discussing things with you or you calmly discussing things with me I can only say that the whole six months assisted me personally to get my mind together and my feet back on the ground. You also assisted/helped my wife to understand the problems I had caused to my family - for which I took full ownership and my remorse was total. In that regard we both appreciate fully how you were able to discuss with both of us or each of us individually in a manner which shows your professionalism is of the highest calibre.

My chats and discussions with you was time very well spent and I can honestly say that you were instrumental in putting me on the path to recovery for both myself personally and also my relationship with my wife.

I am aware that the path still has some way to go and you can rest assured Michaela that I will continue down that path and continue to be the best person I can be.

Thank you so much for helping me. You have been amazing.

I would recommend any person contemplating counselling to go ahead take the plunge make the call to a counsellor and like me I am sure you will receive the help to take you forward.”
 
"I just wanted to send you a massive THANK YOU for all your help and support over the past 10 sessions. You have really helped me through a difficult time. I felt so comfortable chatting to you, it was very helpful to me from start to finish.”
 
"Words simply can't express how absolutely grateful I am for all of my sessions with you. What an amazing gift of experiencing that process. Thank you."