Michelle Gale
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, I’m Michelle – Counsellor in Westbury-on-Trym, North Bristol.
I offer short-term and long-term counselling for both individuals and couples from my private home office in Westbury-on-Trym, North Bristol. As a registered member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), I provide a professional, compassionate, and confidential space to explore the challenges you're facing.
Individual Therapy
I have extensive experience working with adults facing a variety of difficulties, including childhood trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, and personal struggles such as low self-esteem and relationship issues.
As an integrative therapist, I adapt my approach to meet your unique needs, drawing from methods including Psychodynamic, Person-Centred, and Gestalt therapy. By exploring both your past and present experiences, we can uncover how past events may be shaping your current feelings and behaviours, empowering you to make meaningful changes. Together, we’ll create a space where you can rediscover your true self, free from judgement, and work towards healing and growth.
Couples Therapy
I am passionate about supporting couples as they navigate the complexities of family life. Whether you're seeking support to navigate the complexities of family life, improve communication patterns, or address issues around intimacy and desire, I create a space for honest conversations that encourage collaborative, positive change.
My approach is warm, open-minded, and compassionate, creating a safe environment for honest conversations. We will work together to encourage positive change and develop effective strategies to deepen your connection and strengthen your partnership.
How It Works
We often begin hiding parts of ourselves in childhood to fit societal expectations, leading to a sense of disconnection from our true selves. Over time, this suppression can manifest as anxiety, depression, or suppressed anger. In therapy, we work together to gently uncover and explore your authentic self, in a safe and non-judgmental space, helping you reconnect with who you truly are.
Free 15-Minute Consultation
Finding the right therapist is essential for your journey towards healing. That’s why I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation. This is an opportunity to ask questions, learn more about my approach, and discuss how we can work together.
Feel free to text or call me at 07729980125 to arrange your consultation or if you have any questions.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training, Qualifications & Experience
I hold a Master’s Degree (Distinction) in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of the West of England. My training as an integrative therapist allows me to draw from a variety of counselling approaches, including Psychodynamic, Person-Centred, and Gestalt therapy.
I also hold a Level 3 Certificate in Gottman Method Couples Therapy from the Gottman Institute, which provides evidence-based strategies for couples to improve conflict resolution, intimacy, and affection.
Additionally, I spent two years at the Swan Project in Bristol, where I provided counselling to individuals in active addiction or recovery. This experience deepened my understanding that addiction is often tied to underlying issues such as grief, childhood trauma, anxiety, and depression, rather than existing as an isolated problem.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in education as a lecturer at the University of the West of England (UWE), which helped me develop a strong empathy for the challenges faced by young adults today.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
My areas of interest include challenges within family life including separation and affairs and looking at how communication and parental relationship can be managed to support positive outcomes in children when families break apart. This extends to childhood development and understanding how trauma and stress impact the body and can lay the foundations for challenges in adulthood.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Individual counselling session - £60
Couples counselling session - £70
When I work
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Further information
I see clients in-person and online from my home office in Westbury-on-Trym, which is located in north Bristol BS9. There are no access restrictions and parking is available.
