About me
Hello, my name is Michelle and I am a person centred counsellor.
Finding the right counsellor can be overwhelming because there are so many of us, so let me help you to decide if I am the right one for you by explaining how I work.
So what does Person Centred mean?
It means that you are at the heart of the counselling. I'm not going to tell you what to do but what I am going to do is give you a safe space so you can explore and understand the things you aren't happy with. There is no judgement so you can discuss anything you need to without fear.
At my core is a belief that you are the expert in your own life and my role is to help you navigate any issues that are standing in your way.
I am known for my gentle and calm approach and my authenticity.
Things you might come with and how I will support you
You might find that past experiences are affecting you in the present and you are ready to think about them and move forward. This might feel painful so I will support you to face things at a pace that feels comfortable. I will help you to acknowledge any feelings you may have squashed down to protect yourself.
You might be feeling anxious but not really understand why. I will encourage a curiosity where you can explore the anxiety and the possible reasons for it.
Maybe your relationships never work out and its confusing because you feel like you did everything right. I can think with you about patterns that you feel are unhelpful.
You might feel that you are not living authentically and you want to get back to that person you know you can be. I will help you to live in your truth and embrace the wonderful human that you are. You might not believe that right now but I will support you to acknowledge, accept and love yourself as you are.
So if you are a person who wants to gain more self awareness then person centred counselling could be for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have worked with individuals and over the last 6 years have worked with couples in conflict. This included 2 years working with RELATE.
I have also worked with NHS staff that were affected by COVID offering 5 sessions to help them explore the impact of a very traumatic time.
I have a Diploma in Grief counselling
I have worked with people from across the UK on a number of issues.
Although I have experience and qualifications I don't assume to know a clients experience because everyone is unique. No two people will experience for example trauma in the same way or bereavement in the same way. So I will seek to understand your experience through your eyes.
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
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I will send you my payment details with your Zoom link. Payments are done via bank transfer.
You can pay for a session before or after whichever is easiest for you.
If you are coming as a couple the fee would be £80
Further information
My counselling practice is all on Zoom which I started during COVID. Initially I wasn't sure if a clients experience would be the same online as face to face but my clients tell me that they like being in the comfort of their own home for sessions so I have continued with this.
Once you have made initial contact with me I will ask for your email address and I will send you a Zoom link for your first session.
What will happen at that first session
During your first session we will talk through the counselling contract. This includes things like
- Confidentiality
- Practical things like how to cancel a session
- We will think together about whether you want a set amount of sessions or a more open ended approach
- Its your opportunity to ask any questions you might have
- I will gather a few bits of contact information
This first session gives you an opportunity to share the reason you are seeking counselling and for you to decide if I am a good fit in meeting those needs.
Often people feel a bit nervous at their first session and this is perfectly normal. I will do what I can to make you feel at ease.
Whatever you come to me with I will provide a gentle and nurturing approach. I will go on your journey with you as you explore things that might be painful. We will go at your pace.
I will support you to be curious about the things that are troubling you, to acknowledge them, to understand them and to let them go.
So I look forward to working with you.
