Michelle Gale
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm Michelle. I offer short and long-term counselling to individuals and couples from my home office in Westbury-on-Trym, North Bristol. I am a registered member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).
Life can be challenging and there are times when we all feel overwhelmed. I offer a safe and compassionate space to explore the challenges you are facing. I'm trained as an integrative counsellor, which means that I draw from a range of therapeutic models, depending on your individual needs and goals for therapy.
I follow a trauma-informed approach, which means that in the sessions we’ll look at both your past and your present experiences to understand the ways in which your past may be influencing your feelings and behaviour in the present.
I'm experienced in working with adults struggling with a range of issues including childhood trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, and relationship issues including communication, infidelity, separation and parenting challenges.
How does it work?
It’s often in childhood that we first start hiding parts of ourselves in order to develop a self that feels more acceptable to the world. Through social expectations and pressures we can increasingly lose touch with our authentic self, resulting in anxiety, depression or suppressed anger.
Together we can begin the process of uncovering, exploring and rediscovering your true self in an environment that feels safe, compassionate and free from judgement.
I understand that finding the right therapist is important, which is why I offer a free 30 minute telephone consultation. If you would like to find out more about me please get in touch by either texting or calling 07729980125.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Masters Degree (Distinction) in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the The University of the West of England. I trained as an integrative therapist, which means I draw from a range of counselling approaches including Psychodynamic, Person-centred and Gestalt.
I work with clients who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem or addiction issues. I also support couples with communication issues, problems relating to divorce/separation, affairs and parenting challenges. As each person is unique, I aim to listen and develop a way of working together that fits with your needs.
As part of my training I worked for 2 years at the Swan Project in Bristol, counselling people with an active addiction or in recovery. This experience gave me the understanding that addiction is not a stand-alone issue, but a means of trying to cope with deeper issues such as bereavement, childhood trauma, anxiety and depression.
I have a Level 3 certificate in Gottman Method Couples Therapy from the Gottman Institute. The Gottman method is a solution-focused model of couples therapy that aims to support couples to develop the tools to resolve conflict, and increase intimacy, respect, and affection. You can find more details here: https://www.gottman.com/about/the-gottman-method/
Additional Qualifications:
- Certificate in Counselling Skills (Level 4) - Bristol City College
- MSc Educational Psychology - The University of Bristol
Before embarking on my training I worked for Mind Bristol as a helpline volunteer and for Changes Bristol as a group facilitator.
Prior to training as a counsellor I worked for many years in education as a lecturer for The University of the West of England (UWE). This gave me a deep appreciation for the challenges of being a young person in today's world.
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
£55.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Individual counselling session - £55
Couples counselling session - £70
When I work
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Further information
I work in person from my home office in Westbury-on-Trym, which is located in north Bristol BS9. There are no access restrictions and parking is available.
