Michelle Westgarth
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Introductions
Hello there, I'm Michelle. Here is a little introduction about me so you can get a feel for who I am as a therapist...
I would describe myself as having a gentle yet encouraging approach to therapy and can offer you an experienced listening ear to help you feel more grounded and in control of your life.
What Can You Help Me With?
I work with various presenting issues, including anxiety and depression, those who wish to process past traumas, as well as supporting people in navigating current difficulties in their lives.
Additionally, if you are finding it difficult to cope with a long-term health condition, disability or a caregiving role and need somebody to talk to, I might be the right therapist for you. I have a background in Carer Support, Advocacy, and Disability Studies. I also have both a personal and professional understanding of the challenges disabled people and their Carers can often face and have dedicated myself to supporting people impacted by disability. With this in mind, I offer a reduced fee to those receiving Carers Allowance or Disability Benefits to support the cost of therapy. For practical information about accessibility, please find further details below.
Do You Offer a Free Initial Consultation?
There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to counselling, and because of this, I strongly encourage clients to contact a few possible therapists to get a feel for who they could work with.
As part of my process, I offer a one-hour, free initial consultation. During our initial discussion, we will discuss what is bringing you to therapy, what to expect from counselling and answer any questions you might have. I will also provide all the practical information about fees and scheduling so that you leave feeling fully informed.
How Do You Deliver Therapy?
I am pleased to be able to offer therapy in person, online and via the telephone- giving clients flexibility and choice. Please kindly note that my work is with clients over the age of 18 years.
Accessibility:
Accessibility should not be a barrier to therapy. My practice offers ample parking, step-free access, a portable hearing loop, low-level lighting, is assistance dog friendly and provides toilet facilities with a grab rail and a raised toilet. There’s always room to improve and expand accessibility, so if you have additional access needs that you would like to discuss, please do get in touch.
What is Your Availability?
I work Monday-Friday and select evenings. My opening hours are featured at the bottom of this page.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
As a minimum, therapists usually suggest 6-12 sessions. However, some clients prefer a longer-term arrangement. We will periodically review our work together and discuss whether you are gaining what you wanted from therapy and when you would like to conclude.
Training, qualifications & experience
What Experience Do You Have?
I have over ten years of experience working in mental health and disability services in both the third-sector and Statutory services. Outside of my client hours, I am a Tutor for counselling college courses- supporting new therapists in to practice.
What Qualifications & Training Do You Have?
I am a Registered Member of the BACP and have a Master's Degree as an Integrative practitioner, meaning that I am trained to offer a diverse range of therapeutic techniques that I blend to meet individual needs. I am also a certified online and telephone therapist- allowing me to work flexibly to suit clients with different preferences or limitations. Please see below my relevant training qualifications:
- Counselling MSc (Level 7)
- Social Work BA Hons (Level 6)
- Child Psychology Diploma (Level 4)
- Understanding Principles and Practices of Assessment (Level 3)
- Psychology (Level 3)
- Safeguarding Adults (Level 2)
- Safeguarding Children (Level 2)
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- On-going CPD achievements
Practice Office
If you are a visual person and like to familiarise yourself with your environment, I have included some photos of my therapy office so you can get a feel for your surroundings. If you require any further images, or have access requirements that you would like to discuss, please do reach out, and I will be more than happy to help.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £50.00
Free initial in-person session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
What Are Your Fees?
Fees are set at £50 per 60-minute session. The frequency of sessions can be either weekly or fortnightly.
Do You Offer Concessions?
Concessionary rates of £40 are available for those receiving Disability Benefits or Carers Allowance. Individual concessions may be considered on a discretionary basis to support the cost of therapy. Please do not hesitate to discuss your needs.
Can You Accept Payment Via Insurance?
If you wish to use health insurance to pay for the cost of therapy, please check with your insurer that they allow the use of our services, as some have specific criteria for providers.
When I work
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My regular working hours are Monday through to Friday, including evenings.
