Michelle Higgins

I am a humanistic person centred counsellor and qualified supervisor. I have senior specialism (CYP accredited) in working with children and young people.

I have an MA in counselling and psychotherapy and a post graduate certificate in Supervision.

I work with children, young people and adults who present with a range of issues including: bereavement and loss, anxiety, stress, low mood, family issues, eating difficulties, gender issues, illness, sexuality issues, substance misuse, cultural issues, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and feelings.

I am passionate about working with children and young people, as well as those who teach, support and care for them. I am inspired by young people's resilience and their ability to over-come difficult experiences. To be invited into their lives and to be a part of their growth and development is a privilege.

In addition to my private practice work, I currently work as an associate lecturer with the Open University. Previously I have worked as a counsellor in further and secondary education, child and adolescent mental health practitioner, parent and family support practitioner, youth project worker and dance and drama teacher in further education.

I have worked in a range of services and settings including schools, colleges, addiction support, hostel environments, Liverpool Women's hospital, bereavement services, 24 hour helpline support and CAMHS.

As a person centred counsellor I follow the lead of my client and seek to really understand their experience. I aim to create a warm and welcoming space so that children, young people and adults feel safe and can begin to build a relationship of trust with me. I believe that when people feel accepted, valued and understood by a counsellor, they are able to explore difficult issues and can begin to make sense of their experiences and feelings. When this happens, the intensity of difficult feelings may lessen and become more manageable, options of ways forward might begin to emerge, and views or beliefs can change bringing about a new perspective and a new way of being.

I have an arts background and use creativity as a route to expression with those clients who find making and creating a helpful and meaningful process.

​I am committed to continuing professional development. I attend regular training to update my knowledge and skills.

​I have strong ethical values and personal integrity.

​(Qualification certificates available to view on request)

I am a senior accredited therapist and a qualified clinical supervisor (Postgraduate Certificate).

I offer a warm, collaborative, and non-judgemental approach where you can reflect and explore the many different aspects of your work and professional development. I am a humanistic therapist, and the person-centred approach is central to my work, though I utilise elements from a range of different approaches in response to client need. My supervisory practice is underpinned by the Hawkins and Shohet Model of supervision combined with Developmental and Cyclical Models.

My intention is to help you feel safe and comfortable so that you can reflect on your successes and the aspects about your work that, perhaps, you are not so confident about, or feel you need to develop. You can use sessions with me to explore and develop insight about your ideas, reactions, struggles and challenges in your work with clients, as well as considering what is working well and sharing your achievements.

In my therapy work, I see adult clients, children and young people. I use creativity in my therapy approach where useful and appropriate.

I know that working with children and young people (CYP) as a counsellor is not easy. Doing bold, brave and meaningful work with CYP is so rewarding but challenging. Managing the systems around the child, containing risk, maintaining safety and enabling CYP to trust in our confidentiality agreements so they can begin to open up and tell their stories is demanding work in different ways to working with adults. If you work with CYP, I would love to support you in this work. 

During a telephone consultation, we can talk about your needs, and hopes in supervision and I'll outline the way that I work. I'll explain my experience and approach.

You can tell me about you – your approach - your experience – where you work or the kinds of environments where you see clients. You can talk to me about the type of client issues you work with, and what you need to continue to develop and to be sustained in the work you do. We could decide together, whether or not it feels like we are a good fit for each other.