Michael Ralls

If you’re looking for therapy that feels human rather than clinical, read on.

Maybe you’ve got something going on that you’d like to work through. Or maybe life just isn’t working for you the way you’d like it to and you’re not quite sure why.

The truth is most people I’ve worked with didn’t arrive with a neat list of symptoms.

They arrived tired, stuck, frustrated, disconnected, or quietly overwhelmed. Often, they’ve tried to “sort it out themselves” for a long time, and it’s just not working anymore.

My way of working is relational and grounded. I’m less interested in labels and quick fixes, and more interested in understanding you. How you’ve learned to cope, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what might be getting in the way now.

You don’t need a crisis. You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to know what to say. You don’t need “do therapy properly”. You just need a willingness to show up and reflect.

I offer a space that feels human, steady, and real. Not clinical.

A place where you can talk honestly, at your own pace, without being analysed or judged.

More about me:

I’m not going to throw a load of therapeutic jargon at you here. I’m not sure that’s helpful.

What is useful to know is that I meet the standards for BACP registered membership and hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, so you’re in safe hands.

Beyond that, what tends to matter more to people is who they’ll be working with.

I didn’t set out to become a counsellor. For over 15 years I worked in corporate sales and marketing — fast-paced, high pressure. On the outside, life looked fine. On the inside, not so much!

Therapy helped me slow down, understand myself, and recognise long-standing patterns in my life. Over time, I made changes that felt more aligned with who I am.

I retrained as a counsellor to do work that I felt purpose and meaning.

I bring life experience along with professional qualifications to offer others a space where they don’t have to perform, impress, or hold it all together.

I offer online counselling and walk-and-talk therapy in and around Brighton, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Croydon and surrounding areas.

My approach is integrative, meaning I draw on different therapeutic perspectives depending on what you need, rather than forcing you into a rigid model. At the core of my work is the relationship we build, because real change tends to happen when you feel understood, not “worked on”.

Sessions aren’t about me telling you what to do, fixing you, or pushing positive thinking and validation. They’re about slowing things down enough to notice what’s really going on underneath the surface. Patterns, habits, beliefs, and emotional responses that may once have helped, but now feel limiting or exhausting.

Some people come with specific issues like anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, anger, or loss. Others come because life feels flat, confusing, or off-course. Both are welcome.

We’ll work at a pace that feels right for you. Therapy doesn’t need to be intense all the time to be effective. Sometimes therapeutic change happens slowly and quietly.

Before committing to therapy, I offer a free 20-minute online chat. This is a chance for you to get a sense of me, ask questions, and see if this feels like a good fit, with no pressure to continue.

If we decide to work together, the first session is about getting to know you and what’s brought you here. We’ll talk about what’s been going on, what you’re hoping for, and any previous experience of therapy (good or bad).

There’s no expectation to “go deep” straight away. We’ll also agree together how we want to work. What feels useful, what doesn’t, and what you need from me. Therapy works best when it’s a collaboration, not a prescription.