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MC Portrait of Michelle Copley

Michelle Copley

Practical, collaborative counselling for everyday struggles

BACP United Kingdom

Experience
12 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Gottman Method, Client-Centred Therapy
Languages
English

About Michelle

Michelle Copley is a counsellor who uses the Gottman Method alongside other practical approaches. She draws on 12 years of experience to help people deal with stress, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, addiction and life changes in everyday terms.

Background and approach

Michelle keeps sessions conversational and collaborative. She listens to what is happening, helps people make sense of their reactions, and works with them to set straightforward goals.

Her style is warm and respectful so people feel heard from the first session. She offers a range of approaches and picks what fits each person.

That can include client-centred work that follows the client’s pace, cognitive behavioural techniques that look at thoughts and behaviours, and emotion-focused ideas that emphasise feelings and connection. Michelle also draws on dialectical skills to teach emotional regulation when needed.

Michelle has helped people with trauma and abuse, parenting stress, addiction concerns, sleep problems, low self-esteem, and mood difficulties. She also supports those facing career changes, caregiving strain, chronic health issues and questions around identity and relationships.

Sessions are delivered online by video, phone, chat or messaging. Michelle explains therapies plainly and offers tools people can use between sessions.

Her aim is to make the counselling journey as easy to begin as possible and to help people move forward with practical steps.

Therapeutic approaches and online counselling options

Michelle commonly works with the Gottman Method, client-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in online sessions. The Gottman Method focuses on communication patterns and practical exercises to improve how people relate and handle conflict. Client-centred therapy puts the person at the heart of the work, following their pace and priorities so they feel understood. Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches skills to change unhelpful patterns.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Michelle discusses goals and preferences with each person and then suggests one or a mix of methods. She aims to make that decision together so the plan fits what the client needs and wants to achieve.

Online therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and exercises, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, chat allows shorter check-ins during a busy day, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options give flexibility for scheduling, reduce travel time and make it easier to fit counselling into a working week.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can Michelle help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction and relationship difficulties, plus related issues like sleep problems, low self-esteem and coping with life changes.
What is her style in sessions?
Her approach is engaging and collaborative, keeping conversations clear and practical while helping clients set goals and learn tools they can use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Michelle has 12 years of experience working with a wide range of concerns including trauma, grief, addiction and mood disorders.
What professional registration does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP, and practises from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients and works with people in the United Kingdom.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and getting started work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and is managed through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefParenting issues

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centred TherapyCognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

12+ years

Registered with

BACP

Languages

English