Michelle Lindsay
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Sometimes we can find ourselves in situations that seem too difficult to overcome, or we can feel stuck and at a loss to know how to proceed. Life can sometimes feel too challenging, overwhelming or frightening. Sometimes it may not be possible, or might feel too difficult to talk to family or friends about your concerns.
I am a qualified humanistic counsellor, which means that I will focus on your needs and work with you as an individual human being. You will be listened to, heard and supported during our time together. I will offer you a confidential space to explore what is troubling you.
How counselling can help
I believe that you are the best expert on yourself and as such are the best placed to find the resolutions to your concerns. However, life can sometimes be difficult to navigate and we can sometimes need some help in identifying these. I will work collaboratively with you and be alongside you to help you start gaining fuller understanding and identifying what is the best way forward for you.
My clients have told me that they feel safe, heard and understood, accepted as they are and not judged. That with my help they have felt able to talk about and face issues that previously felt too difficult or painful to face, and that they have regularly gained new understanding and insights that have helped them.
Counselling sessions
I offer in-person counselling sessions with individuals in a dedicated counselling room in York. I also offer online counselling sessions via video call.
The easiest way for you to contact me initially is by email. We would start by you booking a short phone conversation with me (usually 15-20 minutes) which is free of charge, for you to tell me what you are seeking counselling for and get further information. During this you will be able ask questions about how counselling might work for you and details such as available times for sessions.
What to expect in your first session
If following our initial conversation you decide you would like to start counselling together, the first session will give us a chance to see how this feels. We will start by exploring what is happening in your life, why you have sought counselling at this time, and what you would like to get from it. This will inform the direction of our sessions together.
Once we have agreed to work together we can also discuss the number of sessions and review patterns to see what will suit you best at this time. I aim to work with what you bring at a pace which works for you.
I offer a flexible approach to the length of counselling and the number of sessions and will always discuss this with you, as I believe that what will work best for each client is as individual as each person and their situation. I can offer short-term or long-term counselling depending on what works for you. I also find it can work well for some clients to contract for an initial number of sessions (e.g. 6 or 10) and then review this. Sessions are the standard 50 minutes in length, and would usually be at the same time each week.
Training, qualifications & experience
My counselling training and approach is Humanistic Integrative, which means that I work from a humanistic, client centred foundation. I work relationally with you as a unique individual and we can also work existentially with any aspects of your life or experiencing that you bring. I may also draw on and incorporate aspects from other approaches where appropriate, for example Emotion Focused Therapy, Gestalt, Attachment theory, Transactional Analysis or CBT.
As a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), I adhere to their Ethical Framework which holds client safety and wellbeing as central.
I hold the following counselling qualifications:
· Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Humanistic Integrative Counselling (Distinction) Level 7, York St John University
· Certificates in Online & Telephone Counselling (Introductory and Full)
· York St John University Certificate in Counselling Sills (Distinction), Level 5, York College
I undertake regular CPD (continuing professional development), which has also included training on working with trauma and domestic abuse.
I am experienced in working with clients both in person and online via video call and am experienced in counselling adults on a wide range of life situations, concerns and mental health issues, including autism and neurodivergence. I have also worked for three years as a counsellor at the York St John Communities Centre.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Our initial phone conversation is free of charge.
Counselling sessions are £50 per session (in person and online). If this cost would be prohibitive for you please ask, as I can sometimes offer concessions.
When I work
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I work weekdays Mondays to Fridays. Please contact me to check if my current availability matches yours.
