Michelle Robinson-Hayes, BACP

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is a BACP-registered counsellor and hypnotherapist who combines practical experience with a compassionate, goal-focused approach. With 10 years of clinical practice, she has developed a wide-ranging therapeutic skill set that addresses issues such as stress, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, and many other life and mental health challenges. Her practice emphasizes collaboration - working with each person to identify priorities and practical steps toward change.

Michelle founded The Listening Tree to make counselling and hypnotherapy more accessible to local communities, and she has led that practice for over eight years. She brings additional professional roles to her work, including counselling supervision and hypnotherapy supervision, and she has trained and taught student counsellors and hypnotherapists up to level 5. Her training includes advanced hypnotherapy study, and she has accumulated over 1,000 hours of counselling and 500 hours of hypnotherapy delivery.

Her background also includes mentoring young and mature students and volunteering with bereavement support through CRUSE, where she completed extensive placement hours. Michelle has worked with employee assistance helplines and delivered telephone and video counselling, making her comfortable with both in-person and remote formats. As a BACP-registered practitioner - a recognition that reflects adherence to professional standards in the United Kingdom - she integrates evidence-informed techniques such as client-centered approaches, cognitive behavioral strategies, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Michelle combines client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and hypnotherapy to address a wide range of concerns. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and supporting the individual to explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace - it is helpful for building self-esteem, improving relationships, and working through life transitions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) explores the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and offers practical strategies to reduce anxiety, manage low mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help with habit change, stress reduction, and some forms of emotional processing.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative process allows adjustments over time so therapy remains relevant and effective for the individual.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for accessibility and flexibility. Sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy around work, family, or mobility needs and to continue support when in-person appointments are not possible. Licensed professionals can adapt therapeutic techniques to these formats so that meaningful progress can be made regardless of location.