Michaela Slade

Professional, considerate and confidential one to one room based psychotherapeutic counselling or Equine assisted psychotherapy. Room based therapy is supported by my therapy dog and friend, Pluto.

I am client centred and am very empathic towards the needs of my clients, My work with clients is centred around inclusion and acceptance, and the relationship held with the horses also reflects the values that I support in relation to clients.

I work combining elements of somatic experiencing and gentle trauma sensitive yoga practice, to help integrate the experience of the body in personal trauma recovery. This work can be supported by equine and nature connection, or held within our yurt onsite.

Together, within a safe relationship, we can explore the relationship between the body and the nervous system and how the experience interplays with the world around us. Bringing more attention to the body can help us get to know ourselves in a more authentic way, connecting to our experience and helping us to process trauma and stress responses safely without a need to share 'what happened'

Equine assisted psychotherapy:

This beautiful practice offers opportunity to work from an experiential perspective, in the presence of and in relationship with horses. The sessions are gently guided and Facilitated to ensure that mutual interactions are done within consent of the horse and the client, this means that we work towards the experience of using touch to connect with the horses, often finding ways to connect that are in line with horse behaviour and communication. The interactions provide an opportunity for learning and understanding about our own nervous system and how we experience relationships, both with ourselves and with others. The practice is trauma informed and provides opportunity for safe trauma process that doesn't require you to go through details of the trauma event(s) this is very important, as I believe that working with horses and our bodies can heal trauma. The work is based on Somatic Experiencing techniques as taught by Dr. Peter Levine. 

Somatic trauma therapy is also suitable for room based therapy. 

What is somatic therapy?

Somatic therapy works with what is happening in the body in the moment. Unprocessed trauma memory is stored in the body, and keeps showing up as it wants to complete its trauma process.  By working with the here and now experience in the body we can safely help you complete stuck trauma responses, helping you, over time to reach a sense of safety and equilibrium which is the desired internal state. Working this way involves building resources and safe connections, either with myself, others or with the horses and nature if we are doing equine assisted therapy.

I have trained with:

• Bristol University and Sweet Track CPCAB level 5 in psychospritual counselling 
• LEAP Equine assisted psychotherapy,
• EQUUSOMA trauma informed equine interventions,
• Aspire Autism Consultancy training,
• Mindfulness based stress reduction and Mindfulness based Compassionate living,
• NCFED Eating disorders therapy,
• level 3 Youth Work Diploma,
• Somatic Trauma Therapy Training with Babette Rothschild,
• Eco therapy training, 

I can combine, from 13 years of extensive training, various techniques and strategies, which can include Mindfulness, Nature Therapy, CBT therapy, somatic therapy, integrative therapy, and equine therapy.

I work with clients aged 11 plus, including adults.

Regular sessions are open ended, we work for as long as we need to, or until you decide to stop. The sessions are client centred, and equine therapy sessions are client and horse centred. I also offer single session therapy and therapy retreats.

OTHER SERVICES:

Pre-diagnostic autism and ADHD assessments 

Eating Disorder therapy program 

Autism and ADHD focussed support, room based, equine or outdoor therapy

School avoidance support, room based of equine assisted psychotherapy 

 ***SINGLE SESSION*** therapy and THERAPY INTENSIVES

I recognise that it takes a lot of consideration and courage to approach the idea of therapy and contact a counsellor.  The current high demand means that people are facing high waiting times whilst managing high risk and high need conditions and situations.

I can offer a single extended session which will enable you to make contact with some support and provide you with a stepping stone into a better future and provide a safety net for those who are high risk.

The sessions will involve

*risk assessment and management

*sign posting where necessary

*immediate intervention and coping strategies

*future planning and goal setting

*space to be seen, heard, valued and understood.

THERAPEUTIC RETREATS 

These are held with the horses, within the beautiful Somerset countryside and can involve meditation and connection programmes, Kundalini yoga, Reiki, Mihndfulness, Nature connection and Equine therapy. The retreats are designed to meet your individual needs and can be held for one, or two days. Please contact me for more information

I offer a supportive and welcoming professional service based on 25 years of experience working with people in a helping role and 13 years as a professional counsellor

I have worked with people of all ages and respect and value the individuality of each person I work with.

It's your journey and it would be a privilege to walk some of the way with you.


Thank you for reading 

Autism and neurodiversity and trauma, as seperate issues, or autistic/neurodiverse people who have been affected by trauma, or who have found their diagnosis and life experience traumatic as a result.

I also am very passionate about working with minority/diverse groups.

There is a sliding scale fee for talking therapy. Prices are agreed together according to income bracket and affordability from £35 to £60 per session.

Equine assisted therapy is also offered on a sliding scale according to affordability the fee starts at £40 to £80 for one hour and £80 to £125 for one and a half hours.

Sessions can also be offered on a fortnightly basis to help manage costs.

Single session therapy is a two hour session charged at £120. Deposit required on booking, payment plans by agreement, but session must be paid in full by session date

***session fees are agreed according to income bracket and affordability to make the therapy accessible to all who need to access the service ***

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can be used as single sessions or as a full programme. 

I honour and value people and am gifted in being able to empathise. I am honest and transparent and accept individuals with a nonjudgemental attitude.
I work creatively to adapt to each individual client; recognising potential, goals and aspiration even in the darkest corners of life, to reconnect people with life and themselves.