Michelle Robinson-Hayes, BACP

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression and grief. She also supports those facing relationship strain, addiction concerns, parenting challenges and career-related stress. Michelle lists work with issues such as ADHD, self-esteem, trauma and intimacy-related concerns among her areas of focus. She is BACP, which means she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Michelle blends practical coaching with talking therapy. She uses client-centred methods to put the person’s priorities first and draws on cognitive behavioural therapy to work on unhelpful thinking and behaviour. She also offers hypnotherapy and employs mindfulness and motivational interviewing techniques where these fit a person’s goals.

Her background includes senior management across corporate industries and more than eight years running a private counselling and hypnotherapy service called The Listening Tree. That work included supervising counsellors and teaching counselling and hypnotherapy students up to level 5, as well as volunteering many hours supporting people through bereavement.

Michelle reports over 1,000 hours of counselling and 500 hours of hypnotherapy experience, and she has worked with employee assistance helplines and telephone and video counselling. She has also provided mentoring to students and mature learners facing complex health or motivation issues.

People who book with Michelle will find a straightforward, practical approach. Sessions typically combine listening, goal-setting and tools to use between meetings. The emphasis is on helping each person make small, manageable changes that fit their life and responsibilities.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person’s priorities and uses listening, reflection and gentle guidance to help people find their own solutions. It suits many issues such as low self-esteem, relationship concerns and life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offers practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle will discuss different ways of working and help decide what fits each person’s needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.

The biography notes experience with telephone and video counselling, but please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter or more flexible check-ins when needed. They can also help people continue therapy when life circumstances change, while the therapist and client work together to keep sessions practical and focused.