Michael Wilkes-Spellman, NCPS

Michael Wilkes-Spellman helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief and struggles with intimacy. He also supports those coping with trauma, anger, career challenges, depression and major life changes. Michael has particular experience with LGBT concerns, compassion fatigue and parenting-related pressures. Michael trained in counselling in 2011 and holds NCPS, which is shown as his credential. He practises part time and offers appointments on weekday evenings to fit around work and family schedules. He uses straightforward language in sessions and aims to make conversations feel calm and focused. In sessions he adapts his approach to each person. He draws mainly on client-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural techniques to help people understand how thoughts, feelings and actions connect. He also uses mindfulness strategies to help with stress and motivational interviewing to support change when people feel stuck. Therapy typically begins by talking about what matters most to the client and setting small, realistic goals. Michael pays attention to patterns that keep problems going and helps people try alternative ways of responding. Sessions can include practical steps, reflective conversation and hands-on coping tools. Clients who prefer evenings may find his schedule convenient. He has around 13 years of experience and continues to update his skills in wellbeing topics. Sessions are offered in English and he does not work with international clients.

How his approaches work online

Client-centred therapy puts the person’s experience first and focuses on listening, empathy and understanding. It helps when someone needs a space to talk through difficult feelings and to feel heard without pressure.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It breaks problems into manageable steps and gives practical techniques for anxiety, depression and unhelpful behaviour patterns.

Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and improve day-to-day coping. These techniques are helpful for rumination, panic and ongoing tension.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and choose methods together. That collaborative decision means therapy can change as needs evolve.

Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation without travel, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when movement is needed, and live chat or text-based messaging suit brief check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options increase flexibility and help people keep therapy going across work and family commitments.