At times life can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to take the first steps in seeking help. My practice is built on my own personal experience and working for over 20 years in mental health services in various roles in the private sector, learning difficulties, disabilities, end of life care and drug and alcohol addiction before training as an integrative counsellor. I have focused my practice around working with adults and young people and those that find themselves marginalised from society.
In my own background I have vast life experience which covers neurodiversity, trauma, narcissistic family dysfunction and complex grief. It was through witnessing so much from a young age that led me towards “helping careers” within mental health Services for 20 years which then lead to me train as a counsellor.
In the vast landscape of psychotherapy, the integrative approach stands out for me because its emphasis is on genuine human connection. I encourage individuals to explore their inner world without judgment.
This exploration can lead to increased self-awareness and help you to discover your own solutions and coping mechanisms. I hope to guide you toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence in a safe and supportive way.
Being an integrative counsellor means I do not believe there is only one type of therapy, as our sessions develop and I get to know you more, In my work with you i will draw on methods from different perspectives depending on what feels like the right fit for your worries or troubles at the time.
In our first session I will make it very comfortable for you as I know how daunting that first session can be, I will talk to you about counselling and let you know what a session will look like. I will get to know you more and we will look at what your goals are for counselling. I will also answer any questions you might have about counselling.
You will hopefully start to feel relaxed and more comfortable with me, helping you to feel more confident about your next session. In the session after this, if you are ready, I will follow your lead, welcoming all you bring to the session. This could be experiences in the present or past or worries for the future. This may also be feelings or experiences that are happening in the moment, as well as journals, dreams and anything you may like to share. I will sit by your side and listen and offer you different points of view. This will help you do deepen your awareness by giving you larger perspectives on the situations that trouble you.
There will be no pressure to share more than you are ready for, I am aware I will be a stranger to you at first and from my own experience of being a client I know how important it is to feel comfortable and safe first.
We can also discuss what will make you feel more comfortable in that first session, it may be that you would prefer it by phone or with the camera off, or even having breaks during the session. It's really important to me that you feel comfortable.
If you would like to take the first steps in finding a counsellor, we can have an initial conversation and take things from there. Please visit my website by using my name with the word “counsellor” in a search.
I am a member of the BACP which stands for, British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, I adhere to this ethical framework. You can find me also on the BACP website.
Any questions at all please contact me either by email or telephone.
Warmest Regards
Michele
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Antisocial Personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant Personality, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Fertility Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Hoarding, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders , Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Phobias, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visually Impaired, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP #396721
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Michele Laurens. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Michele is a good therapist who I find easy to connect.
Written on Nov 04, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and eating disorders
Very knowledgeable and a good listener. She asks good questions and guides the conversation effectively.
Written on Oct 21, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma and abuse
I'm really pleased to have Michele as my therapist. Although we only had a few sessions so far, I can tell she's full of knowledge because she mentioned various tools and references which some are huge discovery to me - to recognise myself much more and to have the confidence that in time, I'd be able to grow stronger in my personal journey. And she also response to my messages quickly and with details, which was not expected but much appreciated.
Thank you very much Michele, I look forward to our on-going therapy.
Written on Aug 21, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue
Therapy with Michele is the best thing that happend to me. Having her integrated approach to help with daily problems, anxiety and trauma related struggles has been great for me. She is very good at reading a situation and her patient. I am very grateful to have been matched with her so perfectly!
Written on Aug 14, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 8 months on issues concerning family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and eating disorders
I feel like she knew how to directed me in the right direction and show me a more correct preceptive on what I thought was my problem
Written on Jul 31, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 5 months on issues concerning depression, family conflicts, self esteem, and compassion fatigue
Extremely happy with her attitude to help and support me , caring and respectful are just a few words to describe Michele
Written on Jun 28, 2024 after therapy with Michele for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, and adhd