Michaela (Mac) Wai


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist/Counsellor and Supervisor, working with adults, couples and children (12plus)
I provide a safe, confidential and supportive space.
Anything you may find difficult to say, I will not find difficult to hear.
We will work together to unravel where you are now and how you have arrived here. By sharing this experience, we can find space to really think about what's going on and to see if we are able to find a happy healthier way of moving forwards.
Whether working with adults, couples or children, gaining trust is something I will do my best to work towards and earn.
Where I Work From: My practice rooms are in:
Cheltenham (Gloucestershire),
Richmond (London),
Crowthorne (Berkshire)
Online (from the comfort of your own home).
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Supervisor . My core training was accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council. I am also a registered member of the BACP.
I am clinically qualified and experienced in working with adults, couples and children (12 plus), both in-person and online. I also supervise qualified counsellors, counsellors in-training and other mental health workers and am part of the tutor team on a BPC & BACP accredited training course.
As well as my private practices in Cheltenham and Richmond upon Thames, I offer volunteer support to a children's counselling service.
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 - £90.00
Free initial telephone session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My fees are dependent on affordability (within the disclosed range of £70-£90 for individuals and £120-£150 for couples) and my clients decide what level they are able to manage.
What To Expect In Your First Session: For individuals, I offer an introductory session so that we have time to fully explore your needs. This is a space for you to be able to really talk with me and for me to help you work out the best way forward. If I am not the right person for you, we will think together about where you may look for the support you need.
With couples, after an initial 15 minute call, we start with our first session, which will be with both clients in the room together.
I offer concessions for counsellors in training.
How I work: I take time to earn the trust of my clients and provide a safe non judgemental place for us to work in together. We explore why you may be feeling overwhelmed and try to find ways to help how you are thinking, feeling and reacting with others. For individuals, ur sessions will be for 50 mins and usually once a week at the same time. Couples sessions are for 60 minutes with an option of a more intense start of 5 hours (with breaks), where I see the couple both individually and together.
Where I work: I have private practice rooms in Cheltenham, Crowthorne and Richmond and I also work online UK and International.
When I work
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I have availability for weekly sessions either in person or online for both individuals and couples. I also offer alternative (fortnightly) Saturday morning sessions in Richmond for couples.
Further information
Everyone calls me "Mac", and we will begin with an introductory session, where you can experience what it is like working with me. We will take our time thinking about your needs and if I am the right therapist for you. If you need further support elsewhere, I will do my best to support you in finding it.
My therapy rooms are warm and inviting with art on the walls and filled with books and possibly even a jigsaw puzzle on the go.
You will find that I am really interested in you and your story. I do not take notes and am fully present for you in our sessions together.
I share some psycho-education, to further help you choose whether to make different considered choices moving forwards.
We look at repeating patterns and try to work out why they are serving you in some way and whether it is always the best way.
If you have special needs, I will do my best to accommodate them and ensure you feel safe and secure when you are with me.
I look forward to hearing from you and we can take things one step at a time, without any pressure. I will invest time in you from the moment you make contact with me.
Mac