Michelle Oakman
About me
About me
- I am a psychotherapist and counsellor working with individuals and couples in Bath and Bristol. I am a qualified supervisor working in both locations.
- I can offer a safe, confidential space to help you explore difficulties, and experience a greater sense of joy and meaning in your life.
- Short term therapy or counselling will start to address issues, and help point you in the right direction. Longer term psychotherapy will enable you to go deeper. By having more understanding and containment of emotional problems there is the opportunity to really grow and enjoy an enhanced sense of wellbeing.
- I am based in North Bath in a peaceful location, a short distance from the centre of Bath with free parking and on a bus route. I also offer good access from the Kingswood side of Bristol, the A46 and 420.
- I also work in Central Bristol. This location is easily accessible from The Gloucester Road, Ashley Down and The M32. There is wheelchair access.
- I can offer some lower cost sessions for individuals and couples.
- I am a qualified supervisor offering supervision to trainee and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. I also work with individuals and groups from person centred agencies and charities. I am on The BCPC (Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling) approved supervisors list for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists.
What to expect
If you decide to see me for an initial session we can, at your own pace, start to look at what you might want to be different in your life. As an integrative psychotherapist I have a variety of approaches that can help you to reach a clearer sense of how you want to go forward. A young woman during our first meeting described this as like discovering her own language in which she could be really understood. You may decide to go away and think about the session, and what you want in the future or arrange to start at an agreed time of the week.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy from Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling ( BCPC). I started my practice, working with individuals in 2004.
In 2012 I started working with couples after completing a 12 month training in Couples Counselling with Jill Gabriel, a renouned couples therapist and trainer.
I originally trained as a social worker, obtaining the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) in 1986. I worked with children and families for eight years. This was followed by over 15 years experience in working with adults with mental health problems. This gave me a good practical grounding in understanding how early experiences can impact on our patterns of relating and dealing with situations.
Since 2014 I have worked as a part-time facilitator of communication skills groups with trainee social workers at The University of the West Of England.
I started attending training workshops in Family Constellation work in 2006. In 2013-15 I completed an 18 month training with Barbara Morgan, an experienced practioner and trainer in this field. This work has a profound focus on the generational impact on individual development. I have found this approach highly effective in sessions with individuals and couples. Between 2012- 2014 I facilitated family constellation workshops at The Aurora Foundation in London.
I was a supervisor of Aurora Foundation counsellors for 2 years in 2014- 2015.
I am a psychotherapist and counsellor with the Trauma Foundation South West.
I completed training with CSTD (The Centre for Supervision and Team Development) in 2017. I offer supervision to trainee and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. I also work with individuals and groups working in person centred agencies and charities.
As a supervisor I draw on my skills as an integrative psychotherapist, keeping theory in mind but always valuing a relational approach which supports the supervisee and their client in their journey together. I am interested in the role of the body in expressing feeling beneath consciousness and how we can reach and help to heal our clients through noticing their and our own physical responses.
Member organisations
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.
UK Council for Psychotherapy
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
Issues around identity, meaning and purpose of being.
Working with dreams and nightmares.
The role the body plays in highlighting unresolved/unexpressed problems through fatigue, illness, and poor sleep patterns.
Family Constellation work with individuals.
Low cost supervision for individuals and groups.
Therapies offered
Fees
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Counselling and psychotherapy -
50 minute sessions with individuals are £45.
I have some low cost sessions available on request before 6pm.
Couples counselling -
60 minute sessions are £65 and 90 minutes for £90.
I can offer couples a reduced rate for a fixed number of sessions.
Supervision -
60 minute sessions with individuals from private practice and agencies are £45.
£40 for trainees and workers from charities.
90 minute sessions are £65. The reduced rate is £60.
Group (between 2- 4 members) are £35 each for £60 minutes. The reduced rate is £25 each.
Fees for larger groups and of longer duration can be negotiated.
Availability
I have evening and daytime sessions during the week in Bath and Bristol. I will be available over the summer holiday weeks as I do not restrict my practice to term time.
Further information
My Bath practice is in Fairfield Park, North of Bath City centre. It is a 20 minute walk from the top of Milsom Street.
It is also easily accessible from the Kingswood side of Bristol (approx 20 minutes drive). It is 10 minutes drive from the A46 and 420.
The number 6 and 7 bus from the centre of Bath stops nearby. There is plenty of free parking outside.
My Central Bristol Practice is based in St.Paul's Learning Centre. It is a 10/15 minute walk from The Gloucester Road, Easton and Ashley Down. The M32 is a 5 minute drive away.
