Michael Lipo

I have most availability during the day on weekdays. I have now opened a few slots on a Saturday morning to accommodate for new clients.

My Approach to Counselling

I want to empower individuals to create a life that is meaningful and fulfilling across as many domains as possible.

I believe everyone's journey is unique, which is why I tailor my approach to fit your individual needs and goals. As an integrative counsellor, I draw from several effective therapeutic approaches to support you.

I create a safe, judgement-free space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Together, we'll work to identify what matters most to you and develop practical strategies to help you move forward.

My approach blends gentle challenge with compassionate support, helping you develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a sense of purpose.

My Therapeutic Toolkit:

I draw from several approaches including psychodynamic therapy to understand patterns in your life, CBT to address unhelpful thought patterns, Existential therapy to explore questions of meaning, DBT for emotional regulation and communication, solution-focused techniques to build on your strengths, and coaching to help you set and achieve meaningful goals.

What makes our work together effective is not just these methods, but the collaborative relationship we'll build based on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to your wellbeing.

I'm an integrative counsellor who believes that everyone's story matters and deserves to be understood, and that each person has the inherent ability to make effective change in their life.

What to Expect

When we work together, we'll explore your personal narrative, including the stories you tell yourself about your life, both consciously and unconsciously. By identifying recurring patterns and underlying themes, we gain valuable insights that help explain current challenges. Without addressing these deeper patterns, similar difficulties often reappear in other aspects of life.

Our Journey Together

Our counselling relationship will focus on empowering you to create meaningful change. Through self-discovery and understanding, you'll develop the awareness needed to break free from limiting patterns and embrace new ways of relating to yourself and the world around you.

Practical Outcomes

During our sessions, we'll work on developing:

• Stronger assertiveness, confidence, and communication skills to navigate relationships effectively
• Healthier ways to manage emotions and respond to challenging situations
• New perspectives to replace unhelpful thought patterns and limiting beliefs

My approach combines compassionate understanding with practical strategies, creating a balanced experience that leads to greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and personal autonomy. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace, with the support you need to create lasting positive change.

Your initial session provides us an opportunity to get to know each other and begin our work together. During this time, we'll explore what brings you to counselling and what you hope to achieve as we work toward creating a life that is meaningful and fulfilling across different domains.

While similar in format to our future sessions, I may spend a bit more time asking questions and understanding your situation. This helps me to tailor my approach to your needs and circumstances.

There's no formal assessment or evaluation - just a meaningful conversation that lays the foundation for our therapeutic relationship. My aim is to create a comfortable, welcoming space where you feel heard and understood from the very beginning.

By the end of our first session, you should have a clearer sense of how we'll work together and the path forward. Remember, this is the start of a collaborative journey towards empowerment and positive change, and everything moves at a pace that feels right for you.

I have spaces available:

Monday 8:00 to 15:00

Tuesday 8:00 to 20:00

Wednesday 8:00 to 20:00

Friday 8:00 to 15:00

Drawing from my extensive experience as a therapist and supervisor in children's homes, I offer professional supervision that supports practitioners at all stages of their career.

I've guided emerging and seasoned professionals who work across diverse therapeutic approaches, including non-directive therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and systemic and family interventions.

My supervision focuses on:

• Developing and refining your clinical practice
• Expanding your therapeutic toolkit with practical strategies
• Building professional confidence and competence
• Supporting your career progression and professional development

I create a collaborative supervision space that balances supportive guidance with constructive challenge, helping you grow as a practitioner while ensuring the highest quality care for your clients.

My background working specifically with children, teenagers, and adults gives me unique insights into the complexities and challenges of this specialised area of practice, allowing me to provide supervision that's both relevant and responsive to your needs.

I can help with therapists in private practice as well as working as part of a team or organisation.

As a BACP registered counsellor with eight years of clinical experience, I offer supervision that draws from my diverse professional background and comprehensive training. My supervision approach is informed by both my private practice as an integrative counsellor and my supervising therapists across various modalities - from newly qualified practitioners to experienced child psychotherapists.

My Approach

My supervisory style is influenced by interpersonal development, existential psychotherapy, and CBT elements - creating a reflective space that promotes both professional growth and ethical practice in alignment with BACP's ethical framework and Good Practice guidelines.

My experience providing supervision within a private children's home has developed my ability to consider the broader systemic context of therapeutic work. This perspective helps me support supervisees in understanding their clients as part of interconnected networks, while navigating relevant legislation, safeguarding processes, and therapeutic provision requirements.

Training & Methodology

I've completed specialised supervision training through the British Psychological Society, including both Essential and Advanced Supervision Skills programs - the latter developing my expertise in online and group supervision modalities. While I prefer in-person supervision, I offer online sessions when needed.

My supervision is grounded in established theoretical frameworks including:

• The Seven-Eyed Supervision Model (Hawkins and Shohet)
• Heron's Six Categories of Intervention
• Proctor's Three Function Model
• Resilience-based Clinical Supervision

I believe effective supervision begins with what you bring to the table. I'll work with you to establish priorities and develop strategies that support your practice while ensuring the best outcomes for your clients.

Our initial meeting establishes the foundation for our supervisory relationship. During this session, we'll take time to:

• Get to know each other's professional backgrounds and approaches
• Develop a clear picture of your current practice, including your client caseload and workload balance
• Identify the key areas you consider most important for your professional development
• Explore the supervisory agreement and contract details
• Establish a collaborative working relationship that suits your learning style and supervision needs

This first session is designed to be both practical and relational, addressing the necessary administrative elements while beginning to build the trust and understanding essential for effective supervision.

By the end of our first supervision, we'll have created a shared understanding of how we'll work together moving forward, with clear expectations on both sides that support your growth as a practitioner.