About me

HELLO AND WELCOME.

I am an experienced integrative therapist currently working in Harley Street, Eastbourne and Hastings and Brighton. I work with all ages ranging from children, teenagers, adults and couples.

I'm aware how the first step of reaching out for help and talking with a therapist can be daunting, scary and overwhelming. I have the highest respect for you and those people who have the bravery to do so, to face your challenges. To have an opportunity to flourish and blossom as opposed to just survive. Most of us do struggle at times in life and having the willingness to seek professional help is an opportunity to transform one's life for the better, as well as break negative repetitive patterns.

I will always recall the first time I started my own personal therapy and my own feelings of fear and feeling vulnerable. However for me it was a life changing experience, and the most momentous period of positive change. So I have personally experienced the feelings around contacting a therapist, also how it may well be for you at this present moment whilst reading.

With this in mind, I work in a very relational and encompassing safe environment, allowing our therapeutic relationship to grow in the therapy room. Also how unique and rare to have the opportunity to open up and talk and be heard and truely listened to. Don't you agree? You deserve this opportunity in life and to find out who you truly are.

Therapy can be at times extremely tough, however it is also a positive and empowering experience engendering a greater self-awareness and understanding. In your therapy you will learn to take responsibility for improving the quality of your life. By developing and applying new, realistic skills and techniques, to change the unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviours to help you better manage your problems. My role is to guide, assist and support you through your very personal journey.

The quality of my therapeutic relationship with you and other clients is important, as I firmly believe this to be a major contributing factor to the overall success of therapy, and to the development of a positive therapeutic experience. An open, informal, relaxed, empathic, warm, collaborative and honest relationship, based on good rapport and trust, and respect.

It's an approach that has contributed to many of my clients' ongoing motivation to attend their therapy sessions and to improve the overall quality of their lives. This also allows for a safe and comfortable space to allow you to explore your thoughts, feelings and unhelpful behaviours, managing your problems without judgement. Through the use of numerous specialist and transferable skills and knowledge. I am committed to providing an individualised, high quality therapeutic experience based on best practice and prioritisation of you and your individual needs.

I have also seen whilst working with children, teenagers and parents, how difficult and frustrating it can be to find the support needed and how resources are so very limited when help is needed. Please feel free to contact me and I will do my utmost to help.

MBACP

Training, qualifications & experience

Training, qualifications & experience

Academic Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Level 6, BACP Accredited Course)
NCFE Certificate in Counselling Skills and Theory Level 3
NCFE Certificate - Introduction to counselling skills Level 2
NCFE Certificate in Counselling Skills Level 1
Ascentis Foundation Certificate in Bereavement Counselling
Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Sexual Abuse Referral Centre
Pre-Trial Therapy
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Dependency Training
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Anxiety
CRI Counselling Services Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training
Couples Therapy
Trauma work

Additional Training and Workshops:

Certificate in Bereavement Awareness (Cruse)
Advanced Counselling Skills
Eating Disorders and Self-harm
Trauma and Recovery
Working with Shame
Fear and Anxiety
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Clinical work with children Induction training (Place2be)
Working Creatively in the Counselling Room
Family Coping and Survival Roles
The impact of Substance Misuse on Children and Teenagers
The Impact of Substance and Alcohol Misuse on Families and Carers
Place2Be working with Teenagers
Transference and Counter Transference
Erotic Transference in Therapy
Group Work
Sandtray Work
Mindfulness
TA 101
Self Harm with children and Teenagers
Depression in Children
Sex therapy
Couples Counselling
Couples Relationships Examined
Anger management and group work
Impact of Miscarriage
Working with Children and Teenagers who are suicidal
Assessments
As a dedicated and ethical professional and in line with BACP requirements, I ensure that I attend regular training courses and workshops in order to enhance my professional development and to keep abreast of new developments.

MY EXPERIENCE.

I have extensive experience of working with clients with a wide range of personal issues. These include inparticular depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, divorce and bereavement, drug and alcohol dependency, suicide, self harm, trauma and sexual abuse and rape. I also have experience of working with many other issues, some of which may not appear on the list below. If you are unsure, please call me and we can discuss your particular needs.

I have acquired intensive knowledge and experience working with Alcohol and Drug dependencies in counselling. I work in helping clients to remain abstinent or in maintenance. Also looking at their relationship around their dependency and patterns of behaviour past and present. Also the impact on family members.
I currently work with clients and young people who have a suicide plan, or ideation and risk of suicide.
Including Pre-Trial clients and victims of sexual abuse and rape.

I feel exceedingly passionate about my work with teenagers at a school and with young children and teenagers in private practice.

I gained invaluable experience with children, whilst working at The Priory.
I have also worked within the charity Cruse Bereavement and CRI, which is now known as CGL .
I have previously worked with Place2b with children and teenagers. I also do facilitation in psycho - educational groups. Along with my private practice.

Member organisations

Accredited register membership

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

I specialise with children and teenagers. My private practice has expanded enormously due to the lack of support out there for children and teenagers and parents.

I am exceedingly passionate that children and teenagers get all of the support that they deserve and at times need. Also that there is a service where parents concerns are heard.

Therapies offered

Fees

Additional information

EASTBOURNE AND BRIGHTON AND FEE

Please contact me regards fees.

LONDON FEE

Please contact me regards fees.

I do require 48 hours notice of cancellation. Any cancellation that is less than 48 hours are payable in full.

* Please note: I will do home visits in the Eastbourne area within a 5 mile radius. Over 5 miles a fee will be charged.

Further information

Other areas of counselling I deal with:

Pre and Post Menopause for women.
The impact on the change of the couples sexual and general relationship.
Dating again after the end of a relationship.
Not repeating patterns in the type of partners one may automatically be attracted too.

Michaela Sheppard