This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Michelle and I am passionate about providing support that helps people move into a place where they live a happier and more hopeful life, the life they deserve to live.
Many people experience struggles and distress in life that become overwhelming and impossible to cope with alone. Worry, anxiety, or sadness builds, and difficult or painful thoughts and emotions overtake everyday living, leaving you feeling lonely and often fearful, misunderstood and isolated. It's easy to feel like no one truly understands what you are going through. If you're feeling as though you need a little extra help, please know that reaching out for support is a brave first step towards changing your present situation. You do not have to struggle on your own. Contact me now to see if working together will be the next step for you.
I am a caring and compassionate counsellor able to offer you support to manage and explore what you are going through. As we work together in a safe and confidential environment, you'll be free to talk openly without fear of being judged or criticised. And because talking openly releases stress and tension, you can find yourself thinking more clearly and seeing different perspectives. This can give you the space and clarity to work out what is best for you and to find solutions that work, which brings hope, self-confidence, and a growing trust in yourself.
During our work together, my focus will be on listening attentively and supporting you to explore and understand your feelings and experiences. You will feel validated, heard, and understood, which can be empowering and affirming. We can also work together in finding strategies to cope with stress or anxiety, leaving you in a calmer and more relaxed mindset. Counselling is a process where yourself and I need to focus, commit and give time to understanding and explore outcomes. I don’t give direct advice – my role is to help you tap into your inner resources to face and deal with whatever is troubling you. Providing a secure, non-judgemental and supportive environment is the best way to achieve that. Ultimately, counselling puts you in the driving seat. This can become the starting point for you to build your inner strengths and resources which lead to a sense of hope and possibility for the future.
You may feel like you're drowning in a sea of confusion or uncertainty due to a current life situation/decision, low self-esteem, stress, a relationship or issues relating to your past. I will listen in a calm and friendly manner while helping you to reflect and process any complicated experiences and emotions like anger, guilt or shame. I aim to help you gain an understanding and deeper awareness of your situation, what is impacting you and why and identify potential underlying causes of your distress. By gaining awareness, you can uncover the changes that are best for you, leading to self-trust and an improved sense of well-being.
Maybe you need time to unravel and process your experiences from the past in more depth. Understanding how your past may have shaped who you are today, the impact and whys, can be empowering for some. Research shows how past trauma can severely influence many aspects of your present-day life without us knowing. We can work safely together as you process and begin to heal your trauma. Because I believe that as you progress in counselling your self-awareness can increase, you may be able to determine the root causes of problems and re-evaluate what is important to you. Become clearer on what you would like to be different and take action to put that in place, which improves your self-esteem and overall happiness. Working side by side in a trusting and caring environment you can rebuild trust in yourself and the world around you
I am a warm and caring counsellor, sensitive to your individual needs and aim to work in a way that suits you, to ensure you feel comfortable and safe. We'll always work at your pace, discuss your needs, and wishes. This may change as we progress, but that’s okay, we’ll adapt as we work together, nothing is ever stuck in stone. You’ll always be in control of what you bring to every session and how many sessions you wish to have. Short term counselling is available, as well as long-term open-ended counselling depending on your individual needs.
I remember how daunting and frightening reaching out can be. The anxiety and nerves that stare you in the face when contacting a counsellor for the first time. I offer a free 15-minute in person, telephone, or online chat for us to talk to discuss what’s bringing you to counselling, no pressure to go into any depth. You can ask any questions you may have and gain a sense of if working together would be right for you. I'll make sure that I have the right skills to support you and if you feel you would like to begin counselling, we can arrange to book your first session when you are ready. There is never any obligation after our initial phone call to book sessions, it's important that you feel at ease with your counsellor.
I’ll email all the details that you will need, time, address and contact details for any questions that may arise. I will make booking your first session as easy as possible. Feel free to contact me now to book an initial chat or to ask any questions you may have.
Face-to-face sessions are available in the comfort and privacy of my garden office. I also offer online counselling via Zoom. I aim to offer a calm and relaxed approach to counselling, one in which a trusting, warmly empathic relationship provides the foundation for you to begin the process of gaining self-awareness, understanding and personal growth. I can support you in finding ways of making changes that enable you to be happier and more at ease with yourself and life.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society. This professional body is in place to develop and promote safe, ethical, and competent practices within the field of counselling. My membership demonstrates that I believe in these goals and work to uphold them within my practice.
I am committed to continuous personal development and to working safely and ethically with every client. As is required by all qualified counsellors, I have regular supervision to ensure that I am always working professionally with my client's best interests at heart.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Cruse Bereavement Support volunteer
- Cruse Foundation training
- Sudden and Traumatic Death training
- Bereavement by suicide training.
- Trauma and Recovery, Mind Body Breakthrough
- CHOICES Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
I have worked with clients experiencing anxiety, loss of self-identity, low self-worth, depression, restricting thought and behaviour patterns, as well as relational difficulties.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Additional information
£50 for a 60 min session
When I work
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Further information
I offer short and long-term therapy dependent on your individual needs. Sessions are offered on a weekly basis; however, this is flexible to meet your requirements. Regularly reviewing of our work together ensures that counselling is beneficial and is meeting your needs.