About Me
Hello! I am Michele, a qualified integrative and creative counsellor working with adults in Somerset (midway between Bath and Glastonbury). I offer a welcoming and confidential space for in-person therapy, set in a private wellbeing sanctuary. Phone and online therapy (or a hybrid of the two) is also available. I am a mindfulness teacher and sound therapist, and for over 20 years, I performed in musical theatre in the West End and across the UK. I am delighted to welcome you to my counselling practice.
My approach is warm, compassionate, relaxed and down-to-earth.
Sessions are held in the barn at Wild Oak Wellbeing, or, weather permitting, we can stroll on the land, sit under a tree or even watch the pygmy goats on their trampoline as we talk. We will work at your pace, and I can draw on a range of therapeutic counselling models, alongside Mindfulness exercises, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and creative approaches, such as sand tray therapy. Together, we can explore the best ways to meet your individual needs.
Sessions
Sessions may include Humanistic approaches such as ‘Person-Centred Therapy’, which offers an empathic, authentic and non-judgemental space to explore your thoughts and feelings. We may incorporate elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help with managing negative patterns of thinking and behaviour. Perhaps we will explore your relationships with family members and how they have affected you both in the past and in your current ways of interacting with people (Psychodynamic therapy).
Mindfulness and sound therapy are evidence-based methods of 'grounding' and regulating the nervous system. Gestalt counselling focuses on the here and now, and offers ways to externalise issues, so we can look at them more clearly without feeling overwhelmed.
If working creatively appeals to you, we can incorporate a ‘holistic wellbeing approach’ that includes ecotherapy, nature connection, and sand tray therapy. These less cognitive approaches help us move beyond words to connect with the whole body (somatic therapy) and can sometimes offer us an easier route into the emotion and trauma beneath, when we are ready to address it.
I also have specialist training and experience working with alcohol dependence, substance misuse, behavioural addiction and disordered eating. In addition to one-to-one counselling, I offer group therapy sessions, workshops and weekend retreats.
I have the following certifications and accreditations
- MBACP Registered Member Status
- Foundation Degree (level 5) in Integrative Counselling
- BSc (Hons) in Gestalt Counselling (in progress)
- Advanced Practitioner with Addiction Professionals
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Diploma in Pet Bereavement Counselling
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- ‘Mindfulness Now’ Teacher Qualification
- Gong Master Practitioner and Sound Therapy
- Advanced Flower Essence Practitioner
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
Qualifications
- Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Diploma in Pet Bereavement Counselling
- Enhanced DBS Checked
- Registered Member MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- Advanced Practitioner with Addiction Professionals
Holistic Training
- Practitioner/Teaching Certificate in Mindfulness
- Advanced Flower Essence Practitioner (BFVEA)
- Gong and Sound Therapist
- Foundation in Integrative Sand Tray Therapy
- Nature-Based Therapy training
CPD Training
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Alcohol Dependence and Addiction Counselling
- Working with Anxiety & Depression
- Working with Disordered Eating
- Neorodivergence-affirming therapy
- Safeguarding children and adults