Michelle Robinson-Hayes

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is a counsellor with ten years' experience who helps people manage stress, anxiety, anger and a wide range of life challenges. She works with issues such as depression, grief, addictions, self-esteem and relationship concerns. Michelle also supports people facing career changes, parenting strain and difficulties linked to chronic illness or bereavement.

Her approach is practical and down-to-earth. She listens first, then helps clients set clear goals and simple steps they can try between sessions. She uses talking therapy alongside tools drawn from cognitive behavioural ideas, mindfulness, motivational interviewing and hypnotherapy to help people notice patterns and try new habits.

Michelle trained as a counsellor and is BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) registered. She has run a private practice called The Listening Tree for over eight years and has delivered counselling, hypnotherapy and training to groups and individuals.

Her background includes senior management in corporate settings, where she led teams, designed training and worked with organisational processes. That experience informs a structured, goal-focused way of working for people seeking practical outcomes.

She has substantial experience supporting bereavement work, including volunteering with a major bereavement charity and completing over 150 placement hours there. Michelle also supervises other counsellors and has taught counselling and hypnotherapy up to level 5 to trainee practitioners.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and building a supportive therapeutic relationship. It helps people feel heard and encourages them to find their own answers to problems such as low self-esteem or relationship strain.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, moods and behaviours interact. It uses practical exercises and simple experiments to shift unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, anger and low mood.

Meditative approaches such as Mindfulness Therapy encourage noticing thoughts and bodily sensations in the present moment. This can reduce reactivity and help with stress and coping with difficult feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss a client’s goals and preferences and then suggest which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and can be revisited as needs change.

Please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as the biography notes experience with telephone and video counselling but does not list all options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets clients choose quieter surroundings or avoid being on camera if that suits them better.