Michelle Copley, BACP

Michelle Copley offers an approachable, practical counselling style rooted in client-centred work. She draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other evidence-informed approaches to help people understand thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Michelle aims to make the first steps simple and direct so someone feeling overwhelmed can begin to feel steadier. She is identified with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP, and has twelve years of experience in practice.

Her background includes support for stress, anxiety, depression and grief, and for people affected by trauma and abuse. She also addresses relationship strain, parenting concerns, addictions and sleep difficulties. Michelle works with issues such as self-esteem, anger, career questions and life transitions, and she lists ADHD among her focus areas.

Michelle uses a collaborative, conversational approach. Sessions combine asking about what is happening now with helping people see patterns and try different ways of responding. She teaches practical skills and explanations so people can use what they learn after therapy ends.

Her main clinical tools include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and elements of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy alongside client-centred methods. Michelle selects methods to match each person’s needs and builds a simple plan together. She moved to online work after 2020 and continues to offer remote sessions.

Michelle aims to offer respect and clear guidance from the first session. Her style is warm and direct, with a focus on helping people gain useful, usable understanding and steady progress.

How therapy approaches work online

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person. The therapist mirrors concerns, offers acceptance and helps someone find their own solutions; this approach suits people wanting a respectful, pace-driven conversation about their life.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It teaches practical techniques to test unhelpful thoughts and try small behaviour changes, which can help with anxiety, depression and sleep issues.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, DBT, emphasises emotional regulation and coping skills. It offers clear tools for handling intense feelings and improving communication and can be useful when emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and then suggest which methods to try first. This is a collaborative decision and can change as progress is made.

Online therapy with Michelle uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video lets people see non-verbal cues and run skill practice in real time. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a work break. Live chat or messaging is useful for shorter check-ins or when someone prefers writing. These options offer flexibility to fit therapy around daily life and reduce travel time.