About Michael
‘Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward and savouring the journey.’ – Roy T Bennett
I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) giving you assurance that I adhere to their professional and ethical standards. I have been working as a counsellor for more than twenty years initially training in the Person Centred Approach.
My work is both compassionate and non-judgemental allowing you to feel safe and supported to explore your struggles. This in turn will facilitate change for you, helping you grow and move forward to a place in which you are happier and have hope.
My work is eclectic and I will always draw on my experience and resources to do what I can that is best for you.
My qualifications are:-
- Diploma in Person Centred Counselling.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Certificate in Couples Work.
- IAPT Certificate in Counselling for Depression.
- Level 5 Diploma in Sex Addiction Counselling.
I work with both individuals and couples and this can be long term on an open-ended basis or for an agreed specified time period. I work a lot with depression, anxiety and loss as well as with various relationship and addiction issues.
“People do not come into therapy to change their past but to change their future” – Dr Milton Erickson
It may not be easy for you to place your trust in someone you do not know and to share your private life with them, especially if counselling is new to you. It is very important for you to feel safe and empowered and to this end I am committed to helping you with whatever is causing your distress. It is important to me that you can talk about your sensitive issues without feeling judged or shamed. In working together we will jointly help you to identify the underlying causes and to assist you in finding ways of coping that are better for you. This in turn will lead you to managing your life in a healthier and more productive way.
What you share with me in the counselling room is strictly confidential. When we meet I will go through this in more detail as well as explaining when there are exceptions to this.
As well as working face to face I counsel clients via online platforms such as Skype and Zoom.
I am happy to have an initial, no obligation 10 minute chat on the phone to see if I can be of help to you. If you then decide you are interested in counselling I offer a reduced cost initial session.
This session offers you the opportunity to explore in complete confidence any issue of concern to you. It also allows me the chance to find out a little about you and for you to see if you feel comfortable with me as a counsellor. If we are happy to work together we agree a mutually convenient time and day for us to meet, normally once a week.
My counselling practice is in Radlett, Hertfordshire and is convenient for people living or working near St Albans, Watford, Bushey, Edgware, Stanmore, Barnet, Elstree, Borehamwood, North West London and the surrounding areas.
“Out of control, you are at the mercy of your anger …. You need a new kind of relationship with your emotions, one where you run them instead of them running you” – Maria Anapaxis