Michele Junges-Stainthorpe, BACP

Michele Junges-Stainthorpe is a therapist with 21 years of experience who supports individuals, couples, children, young people, and families facing a broad range of emotional, developmental, and relational challenges. She works with neurodiversity including autism and ADHD, mood difficulties such as depression and anxiety, stress, grief and bereavement, eating and body image concerns, self-harm, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, anger and relationship conflicts, as well as issues related to gender and sexual identity, substance use, chronic illness, and many other life difficulties.

She welcomes children, teenagers, and adults who are navigating the demands of a largely neurotypical world and is fluent in French for those who prefer to work in that language; she also has some knowledge of Russian and German. Michele adapts her approach to fit each person or family she sees, drawing on a wide range of therapeutic methods to meet individual needs and preferences.

Her work combines techniques from schema therapy, cognitive-behavioural approaches, person-centred practice, DBT-informed therapy, Gestalt and trauma-focused methods, mindfulness-based work, clinical hypnotherapy, narrative and play therapies, emotion-focused practice, and solution-focused strategies. She aims to help clients understand the roots of unresolved issues and to process those experiences so they can draw on personal, social, and practical resources moving forward. Michele has worked as a teacher, a school counsellor in an international school, with private companies, voluntary organisations, and in private practice. She holds a BA in Counselling from Glasgow Caledonian University, a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (BTEC 5) from South Tyneside College, and a BA (Hons) in French, Russian and Politics from the University of Northumbria. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom.

Online therapeutic approaches and tailored support

Michele works from several established approaches that adapt well to online sessions. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, accepting space where the client leads the conversation; it helps people explore identity, relationships, and self-esteem at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and offers practical strategies to manage difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, and unhelpful habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially useful for managing intense emotions and relationship challenges.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Michele approaches this collaboratively. She will work with each client to identify goals, preferences, and practical needs, then recommend and adapt methods that fit the individual circumstances. This collaborative planning helps ensure sessions stay relevant and useful.

Online therapy with Michele can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across locations, fit therapy into busy lives, and access support in a way that suits each person and family.