Greta Mikaelsen

I work in Hebden Bridge Mondays to Wednesdays and in Manchester Thursdays and Fridays.

I am Greta and I have been working full-time as a counsellor for over 25 years. I continue to feel passionate and curious about the human potential for change and have a firm belief in our innate capacity for growth and repair through connection. The therapeutic relationship is proven to be key to successful counselling outcomes, and as a Person-centred counsellor, I believe the importance attached to the core conditions - of empathy, authenticity and unconditional positive regard- to be a prerequisite for any effective therapy. Being able to internalise those qualities in relation to ourselves, are in themselves an indication of a successful therapy outcome!

I have worked in a range of settings including Education, the NHS, the Charitable Sector as well as in private practice. I have additional training in working with children and adolescents and have had many years’ experience of working in both primary and secondary schools. Attachment theory underpins my practice and I draw on creative approaches such as art and play to engage and facilitate expression and as a safe way of working through challenging issues. I am also trained in Nature based therapy, using Nature as a reflective and restorative space, both for counselling and supervision.

I am also qualified as a Supervisor and apart from providing supervision for counsellors, I have had many years experience of developing and delivering non-clinical supervision for teachers, health professionals and managers in order to reduce work stress and foster resilience in the workplace. I currently provide supervision across Educational Trusts in Manchester as well as at St Mary’s SARC.

I work remotely on Zoom, face to face in both Manchester and Hebden Bridge, as well as being an outdoor practitioner, working outdoors both in Manchester and Hebden Bridge.

I offer a free, half hour, initial consultation, either via Zoom or phone, in order for us to establish whether we want to work together.  There is no need to make up your mind in the half hour - you can let me know either way in due time.

FACE TO FACE FROM CHORLTON ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS

I am Greta and I have been working full-time as a counsellor for over 20 years.  I continue to feel passionate and curious about the human potential for change and have a firm belief in our innate capacity for growth and repair through connection.  The therapeutic relationship has proven to be key to successful therapy outcomes, and as a Person-centred counsellor I believe the importance of the core conditions - of empathy, authenticity and positive regard, to be a prerequisite for any effective therapy.  Being able to internalise those qualities in relation to ourselves, are in themselves, an indication of a positive therapy outcome!

I have worked in a range of settings, including Education, NHS, the Charitable sector, as well as in private practice.  I have additional training in working with children and adolescents and have had many years experience of working in schools, both primary and secondary.  Attachment theory and Developmental theory informs my practice and I draw on creative approaches, both Art and Play, to facilitate engagement and expression, particularly when working with children and as a safe way of working through challenging issues.  I am also trained in Nature-based Therapy, working outdoors and using nature as a reflective and restorative space, both for counselling and supervision.

I offer an initial half-hour free Zoom session to enable us to explore the potential for working together and if there is a mutually satisfactory 'fit'. 

The ethos of my supervision practice is Person-centred which reflects my training and practice as a counsellor.  I am a qualified supervisor and am interested in many theories and approaches to supervision including Functional, Developmental and Process models; however, I believe the core conditions are key in developing the kind of working alliance that can make optimal use of the supervisory relationship, as an effective tool for reflection and learning. 

 I have worked as a supervisor since 2004 with counsellors at different stages of their professional development and continue to find it extremely exciting and rewarding to facilitate and witness personal and professional development.  I worked for 9 years at Beacon Counselling during which time I worked with trainees from many different courses including Manchester, Stockport, Salford, City College, etc...  I also supervised the Schools Counselling Team due to my experience of working in schools both primary and secondary, facilitating supervision groups as well as 1:1's.  I have also supervised independent counsellors working in a range of settings including NHS, Charitable, Education, as well as private practice.  

I have also trained in Nature based therapy and can offer outdoor supervision, for both those who are curious to explore Nature as a reflective learning environment, and those who already practice outdoors.

I have also been particularly interested in developing supervision in non-clinical settings and have worked extensively in schools delivering both group and 1:1 supervision to managers, teachers and learning mentors.  I also work as 1:1 and group supervisor for the Crisis Team at St Mary's SARC.

I offer a free half hour initial, by phone or Zoom, in order for us to establish whether we want to work together.  You do not have to make your mind during that time - you can let me know in your own time when you have had a chance to reflect on it.