Michelle Robinson-Hayes , BACP

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is an experienced psychotherapeutic counsellor, hypnotherapist, career coach and mental health trainer who brings a practical, compassionate approach to her work. She is BACP registered - meaning she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and she combines clinical training with strong communication and leadership skills developed over many years.

Her background includes three decades in senior management within corporate industries, where she led teams, set targets and KPIs, and used strategic planning and scheduling to drive performance. That corporate experience complements her therapeutic work, informing a clear, goal-focused style for coaching, training and group delivery while maintaining a client-led approach.

Michelle founded The Listening Tree to provide affordable local counselling and hypnotherapy services and has run the practice for over eight years. She has trained student hypnotherapists and counsellors up to level 5, supervises practising counsellors, and has completed advanced hypnotherapy training. Her hands-on clinical experience includes more than 1,000 hours of counselling and 500 hours of hypnotherapy.

She has particular experience supporting people through bereavement, having volunteered with CRUSE for more than 150 hours, and has worked as an affiliate with organisations such as Anxiety UK, Ben, Mates in Mind, Griefchat and others. Michelle also mentors younger and mature students facing complex mental or physical health challenges and has provided EAP helpline, telephone and video counselling services.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Michelle Robinson-Hayes draws on client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques and hypnotherapy to support people in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy and collaboration so that the person sets the pace and goals; it is helpful for building self-esteem, processing grief and improving relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical strategies to manage anxiety, low mood and stress. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to address habits, motivation and patterns that can affect sleep, addictions or confidence.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so that therapy stays relevant and responsive to progress.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging - making it easier to fit sessions around work, family and other commitments. These options help people access licensed professionals and therapists from different locations while maintaining continuity of care and convenience.