Psychoanalytic Counselling in Swansea

I am a fully qualified and registered psychotherapist, with more than 25 years' experience of working with adult clients in both private practice and NHS settings. I also have extensive experience as a couples therapist, group facilitator, trainer and educator in psychotherapy, and as a supervisor of other practitioners. My therapeutic approach integrates elements of contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy with a Humanistic emphasis on a direct and real relationship. To find out more about me, visit my website: bristolpsychotherapist.com

My therapeutic approach is relationally based, grounded in psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions, and informed by developmental psychology, neuroscience, and psychosomatic thinking. This broad theoretical base enables me to use what feels fitting from different perspectives and work with each client according to their need. I consider psychotherapy to be an artful process; arts theories and practices underpin my understanding of how new thinking arises - that is, how change is generated through the creative-relational engagement of client and practitioner.

Are you experiencing anxiety or depression and want to explore their possible cause? Have you experienced trauma and are struggling to deal with its consequences? Do you find relationships difficult? These are some of the questions that I explore in my work with clients, drawing upon my ongoing training at the Society for Social and Critical Psychoanalysis (UKCP Registered), my four years of training in psychotherapy, my three decades of experience in Communications and Crisis Management, and my professional engagement with psychological issues across race, gender and orientation in the USA, China and France.

Hello my name is Michelle. Welcome to my profile. I am an integrative psychotherapist trained in a varied range of theories including Person Centred Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, CBT, Psychoanalytic & Psychodynamic. If you are considering Therapy I provide a professional and approachable service in a confidential and comfortable Therapy room. If you are unsure how to tackle your issues I offer an initial consultation with no further obligations.

Many people who come into therapy with me are brought by a desire for the healing change and growth that comes from deeper self understanding, to live in a way that enables all aspects of their being to find healthy expression. The work I offer aims to meet the longing for a wholehearted and soul-filled engagement with life, which can sometimes feel out of reach. Psychotherapy usually begins with addressing emotional, mental, relational, behavioural concerns, or challenging circumstances that have recently arisen, or been present for some time.

I'm a psychoanalytic psychotherapist trained to MA and Doctoral level respectively with adults and children and adolescents. I'm also a course tutor for a psychotherapy course at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. I have experience of working across the age range with a wide variety of mild to moderate, sometimes more severe presenting problems. Some people see me because they're very unhappy, distressed or worried, others come because they want to understand themselves better and they're curious about why they encounter the same patterns.

Life can be difficult at times. We can feel depressed, anxious, stressed, worried or unable to cope. This can impact on all aspects of our lives; personal and professional. Sometimes all a client needs is someone to really listen to them and to accept what they are saying in a non-judgemental way. Therapy comes in all different shapes and sizes and I believe the mode of therapy should fit the client, we are all individuals after all. I put you, the client at the centre of the work and believe that together we can work collaboratively to help you mange your life more happily and successfully.

As a psychodynamic psychotherapist I am committed to helping people understand their symptoms as communications of their distress. It is the root of the distredd that needs to be understood and brought into the light, in order to reduce the impact of unresolved issues on the client’s daily life.

We provide medical psychiatric & psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment for Autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, gender dysmorphia, eating disorders, tic disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, trauma, self-harm, psychotic disorders and emotional dysregulation and more. We have over 20 years’ experience working in various CAMHS mental health settings with extensive experience and knowledge. The service is clinically led by a consultant child psychiatrist and a consultant child & adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapist who both trained in the NHS who have provided clinical leadership for services.

I believe that our capacity to cope with issues that arise in adult life, whether this is how we experience the world, relate to others, cope with difficult situations or understand and manage what can often be overwhelming emotions, is ultimately bound up with our early experiences. Whether we wish to or not we carry our history with us and sometimes this does not provide the strong foundation needed to engage and embrace life or weather its storms. I work with clients to recognise the origins of their difficulties so that together we might arrive at a place where life is understandable, and they feel both validated and valued.

I am accredited psychoanalytic psychotherapist, training psychoanalytic psychotherapist approved by the leading providers of training in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and a supervisor. I offer a non-judgmental space to talk and think, for how long it is needed, with the minimum frequency of 1-3 sessions per week.

I offer one-to one Psychodynamic, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This is a well established and evidence-based talking therapy that can effectively treat emotional problems as well as a wide range of mental health conditions including: anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Sessions are booked for the same time every week and range from single to up to three sessions a week. They provide the space to talk about and reflect upon your emotional and relationship difficulties. These are thought about as they relate to your present circumstances but in this type of therapy, they are also considered in relation to your life history.

If you are feeling stuck with particular problems, situations or relationships and don’t understand why or know how to do things differently, psychotherapy can help. Having a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to explore things that are on your mind can lead to powerful changes in your life. My focus is to help you to develop greater self awareness and insight so that things that are troubling you can be understood and worked through. During sessions, I listen carefully to you and we explore links between past experiences and current difficulties so that together we can work towards deep and lasting change.

Life is like surfing. You can't always predict the conditions, but whatever water you find yourself in, psychotherapy can help you choose which waves to paddle for, which to ignore and how to shape a board that suits the way you surf best. My practice is based in contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy and explores unconscious ways of thinking and acting that may be impacting on your ability to live well today - whatever that means for you. Rather than one psychoanalytic school, I can choose from a range of theory and approaches depending on what suits your needs and how you prefer to work.

I'm an Integrative Counsellor & Psychotherapist based in Bristol, providing counselling worldwide. I specialise in tailored therapy for children and young people, with services also available for adults. To explore how I can support you, I offer a complimentary 15-30 minute phone consultation (or Zoom/Skype for international clients). Contact me via Psychology Today or call/text my number to schedule a consultation, or visit my website to book directly.