Michelle Budd

My main working hours are:

- Thursday 9:00am -  2:30pm

- Friday  9:00am -  7:00pm

Sessions are available face-to-face (on Thursday and Fridays) and online. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss current availability or to arrange an initial appointment.

Starting counselling can feel daunting, but it’s a courageous step towards change. 

I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about what is troubling you. 

My practice is grounded in trust, honesty, and respect. Clients often describe me as a calm, patient person who is easy to talk to. 

I see our work together as a partnership, you bring your life experiences and I bring my professional training and therapeutic insight. 

I work in an integrative way, which means I adapt my approach to meet your needs. Our sessions will be led by what feels most important to you, and we will move at your pace. 

Together, we might explore how your past experiences shape your present relationships, how you connect and relate to others and how those experiences may have affected your self-esteem, explaining why you might  feel so lonely or isolated,  even when you are surrounded by lots of people. 

We may notice patterns in how you think, feel and respond to situations and together we will explore where those thoughts have come from. 

My aim is to help you deepen your understanding of yourself, strengthen your agency, and create meaningful change.

My work is grounded both in the person-centred approach and psychoanalysis. This means the sessions are led by you, and at your pace,  we might explore childhood experiences, attachment patterns or traumatic experiences. Life experiences and relationships can influence how we experience life as an adults, and how we feel when around other people. 

Where appropriate I incorporate practical strategies to help you manage anxiety, low mood or feeling over-whelmed by your feelings. 

When you contact me, I aim to respond within 24 hours. On occasion it may take up to two days.

I offer a free, no-obligation 20-minute telephone call giving you an opportunity to briefly discuss what has brought you to counselling and to experience what it might be like to talk to me. 

If you decide to proceed, I will book you in for an initial session. 

Where possible, I can offer the option of a longer initial session at an agreed payment. 

I charge £60 for a 50 minute session. 

 Payment is required the day before the appointment.

At the end of the first session, you are under no obligation to continue.

 If you choose to begin ongoing therapy, I will provide a copy of my contract outlining our agreement. You will have the opportunity to read this carefully and ask any questions before signing.

Therapy takes place weekly, on the same day and at the same time, to provide consistency and continuity. 

Sessions are available face-to-face or online.

I understand that cancellations are sometimes unavoidable and ask for at 48 hours’ notice. I will provide advance notice of any planned holidays and appreciate the same where possible.

My current availability is:

Thursday 9:00am – 2:30pm

Friday 9:00am – 7:00pm

Our first session is an opportunity for you to talk about what has brought you to counselling and what you hope to gain from therapy. It is a space for you to begin sharing what feels most important, at your own pace, without pressure.

I may ask some gentle questions to understand your current difficulties, relevant background, and what support might feel helpful. This session also allows us to consider whether we feel comfortable working together. If at any point you decide it does not feel like the right fit, you are under no obligation to continue.

At the beginning, I will explain confidentiality and its limits, so you are clear about how your information is kept safe. I will also outline how I work, including session structure and practical arrangements.