Michelle Lumley, BACP

Michelle Lumley is a BACP-registered counsellor who offers both online and face-to-face sessions for adults across the United Kingdom. As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - the UK professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists - she draws on professional training, ongoing development workshops, and professional liability insurance to inform a thoughtful, ethical practice.

Her approach is integrative and humanistic, shaped around building a trusting therapeutic relationship through attentive listening and curious, open-ended questioning. That relationship becomes the foundation for exploring feelings that may be difficult to name, and for regularly reviewing progress so the work remains responsive to each client’s needs. Michelle aims to create a nonjudgmental space where clients are treated with respect and are supported to find their own perspective rather than being told what to feel or do.

She has experience supporting people with a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, bereavement, self-harm, sexual and domestic abuse, relationship and parenting difficulties, ADHD, trauma, grief, eating and sleeping issues, anger, career worries, and compassion fatigue. Michelle is described by others as patient, kind, and curious, and she sometimes incorporates creative methods such as art materials and reflective writing to help clients express themselves in different ways.

Sessions are available to people aged 18 and over, with flexible scheduling to accommodate shift patterns. Initial exploratory sessions include practical paperwork and a discussion of how she works within the BACP framework, so clients can agree a working plan and begin at a pace that feels right for them.

Attachment, CBT and Collaborative Online Care

Michelle uses Attachment-Based Therapy to help clients understand how early relationships shape current patterns of relating and emotional response - this can be especially helpful for issues like abandonment, relationship difficulties, and attachment concerns. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help identify and gently challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, a practical approach often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Finally, Client-Centered Therapy informs how she works in session by prioritizing empathy, acceptance, and the client’s own pace and goals, creating space for exploration and personal growth.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself, and Michelle collaborates with each person to tailor methods to their needs, goals, and preferences. She will discuss options, adapt techniques over time, and check in regularly to ensure the chosen approach is helpful and feels comfortable for the client.

Online therapy with Michelle is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people with varied schedules or mobility needs. These options make it possible to access support from home or between commitments, while still working with licensed professionals who can guide therapeutic progress and offer consistent, structured sessions.