Michelle Emsley , BACP

Michelle Emsley is a UK-based therapist with 7 years of professional experience helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, depression and other life changes. She approaches each person as the expert on their own life and focuses on discovering strengths that can be used to overcome daily challenges and improve wellbeing.

Michelle combines a person-centred approach with evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to explore current concerns, identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns, and develop healthier coping strategies. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and solution-focused ideas when these fit a client’s needs, tailoring sessions to the individual rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. Michelle works with a wide range of issues including anger, divorce and separation, health-related concerns such as menopause and chronic illness, caregiver stress, substance issues, family-of-origin and blended family problems, body image and bereavement.

She holds BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is the UK professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. Michelle offers a compassionate, listening presence and aims to walk alongside clients as they set goals and make practical changes at a pace that suits them. She welcomes adults seeking collaborative, strengths-based support to move toward the outcomes they want.

Approaches Michelle Uses and How They Work Online

Michelle uses a mix of approaches that support practical change and personal exploration. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on values-guided action - it can be useful for persistent worry, avoidance and life transitions. Client-centred therapy prioritizes the person’s own experience, offering a non-judgemental space to explore emotions and build self-understanding, which often helps with relationship issues, grief and low mood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, teaching skills to reframe thoughts and try new coping strategies that can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to decide which methods fit best based on their needs, goals and preferences. Sessions are tailored and adjusted as progress is made so that therapy remains relevant and practical.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how and when people connect. Video calls and phone sessions allow for face-to-face conversation from home, while live chat and text-based messaging provide options for shorter, more frequent check-ins or support when scheduling is difficult. These options make it easier for adults juggling work, family and health commitments to access ongoing, consistent therapeutic support.