About Rachella Michaels

As a highly experienced, fully qualified counsellor and psychotherapist I provide compassionate and supportive counselling and psychotherapy for both individuals and couples both online and face-to-face (the latter on hold until covid has passed).
- I specialise in working with anxiety, depression, anger management, and stress related conditions.
- For couples and individuals the sessions are generally of one hour and weekly, although alternative arrangements can be negotiated on a case by case basis.
- Sessions can be any time of the day or evening Monday to Friday depending on availability.
- I am happy to arrange an initial telepnone conversation to answer any questions you may have.
- I have a sliding scale of costs depending on circumstances.

Counselling and Psychotherapy with individuals:
- I see individuals for both short (min 6 sessions) and long term work.
- I provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment in which to explore issues such as anger, anxiety, self-esteem, depression, stress management, lack of motivation or difficulties in relationships. I try to encourage you to choose the pace at which you want to work, and the material you want to work with. Also, I create opportunities for you to make sense of existing unwanted thought and behaviour patterns, to develop new more constructive ones, and to grow a more positive sense of self. I help you develop strategies to deal with difficult feelings e.g. anxiety, fear, depression, anger. This approach can strengthen abilities to manage such feelings, to meet and work with challenges and help the achievement of a happier, more constructive, contented and fulfilled life.
- Most of my individual clients fall within the 20 to 80 age group and suffer typically from anxiety, anger issues, insomnia, low self esteem or work/relationship type issues.
- I work largely with emotions and sensations, focusing on self-understanding and acceptance to develop strategies to increase self-confidence and motivation. Individuals often gain more insight about themselves and others, find greater direction and purpose in their life, feel more in control, and are more able to form successful relationships.

Couple counselling and Relationship counselling:
- I offer both short (min 8 sessions) and long-term couple counselling and therapy.
- I work to resolve conflict and to reconnect couples who suffer issues of conflict, disagreement, misunderstanding, cultural difference, distrust, betrayal, suffer sexual difficulties or who have just grown apart. Couples can be of any orientation.
- I focus on developing in a couple a deeper understanding of the feelings being aroused both in themselves and in their partner and the patterns of behaviour that result, with the aim of achieving greater mutual empathy, connection and closeness.
- I use mainly the Emotion Focused Therapy approach. This was introduced in the UK about 15 years ago when it was already well established in Canada and the US, where several studies have revealed it to be one of the most effective types of couple therapy around.

My training, work experience and any achievement

- I originally trained in Psychosynthesis counselling and psychotherapy, for which I have a counselling diploma, and a diploma and MA in Psychotherapy.
- I have since studied Emotion Focused Therapy for couples for which I have certificates and am listed by York University, Toronto, Canada.
- I also followed an advanced diploma in couple therapy.
- In the last few years I have followed several trainings (NARM, Somatic Trauma Therapy, and Polyvagal Therapy) to do with reducing the impact of the various types of trauma that a person can experience, and that can have a negative effect on their ability to have successful fulfilling careers and relationships, and happy and creative lives.
-I am registered with, and fully accredited by, UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) and abide by their code of ethics.
- I am also a member of APP (Association of Psychospiritual Psychotherapists)
- I have worked as a counsellor/therapist since 1994, having several thousand hour’s of experience working with both individuals and couples, online and face-to-face.

Further Information

- I offer a sliding scale of fees depending on circumstances.
- Concessions are also available.
- My standard rate per 45 minute session is £65.
- Payment can be on a weekly basis or in advance, whichever is preferred.