- Person-centred focus
- CBT-informed tools
- Evening appointments
About Michael
Michael Wilkes-Spellman is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression and major life changes. He also supports people facing relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, trauma and compassion fatigue. Michael has particular experience with LGBT issues, career difficulties and complex situations such as adoption, caregiving stress and body image worries.
He trained in counselling in 2011 and holds NCPS, which is shown as NCPS in his profile. He works part time and offers appointments on weekday evenings. Michael uses an integrated approach and adapts sessions to what each person needs.
In practice he focuses on listening closely to a person’s experience. He uses person-centred techniques to help people feel understood. He also draws on cognitive behavioural ideas to identify unhelpful thinking and try different ways of responding.
Sessions are collaborative and goal oriented when that fits, or more exploratory when needed. He aims to make sessions straightforward and practical, with techniques to cope day to day as well as space to reflect on deeper patterns. People can expect short-term problem work or longer conversations depending on what they want.
Michael offers support for a wide range of concerns including anger, intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, and difficulties linked to ageing or chronic caregiving. He combines listening with practical tools so people can manage stress and move forward at their own pace.
How Michael’s approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre. The counsellor listens without judgement and helps the person name what matters most. This approach is useful for emotional concerns, grief and relationship worries.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours link together. It uses practical exercises and small experiments to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, low mood and stress.
Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment awareness. That can be helpful for anxiety, anger and coping with life changes.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will help clients decide what to try based on their goals and what feels most useful. He aims to adapt the methods and pace to each person in a collaborative way.
If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week and removes travel time. It can also allow shorter check-ins or sessions outside normal working hours, which many people find more practical.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Credentials
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Michael commonly help with?
He helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, trauma, anger and career-related stress. He also works with issues such as caregiving strain, adoption and body image.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Michael blends person-centred listening with practical strategies from cognitive behavioural therapy. Sessions can be exploratory or focused on short-term goals depending on what the person prefers.
How long has he been practising?
He has practised for 13 years, having completed his counselling training in 2011 and continuing to update his skills in different wellbeing topics.
Where is he based and what credential does he hold?
He works in the United Kingdom and is listed with NCPS as NCPS in his profile.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions operate via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule an appointment according to his availability.