- Person-centred focus
- Practical CBT skills
- Evening appointments
About Michael
Michael Wilkes-Spellman is a counsellor with 13 years' experience who supports people facing grief, stress, anxiety and relationship concerns. He works with issues such as intimacy-related difficulties, depression, trauma and compassion fatigue. He is an NCPS member and offers appointments on weekday evenings.
Michael uses a blended style that is tailored to each person. He draws mainly on Client-Centred Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help people talk through their distress and spot unhelpful patterns. Sessions are shaped around what the person wants to work on and move towards.
He values simple, practical steps alongside space to reflect. That can mean looking at thoughts and behaviours, or spending time understanding feelings and life history. Michael aims to balance short-term goals with deeper exploration as needed.
His background includes initial counselling training completed in 2011 and ongoing professional development in wellbeing topics. He works part time as a counsellor and continues to update his skills.
People tend to find his approach straightforward and focused on everyday changes. He offers support for a wide range of life transitions, career stress, caregiver strain and issues linked to identity and relationships. Sessions are arranged in weekday evenings to fit around other commitments.
Michael uses a blended style that is tailored to each person. He draws mainly on Client-Centred Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help people talk through their distress and spot unhelpful patterns. Sessions are shaped around what the person wants to work on and move towards.
He values simple, practical steps alongside space to reflect. That can mean looking at thoughts and behaviours, or spending time understanding feelings and life history. Michael aims to balance short-term goals with deeper exploration as needed.
His background includes initial counselling training completed in 2011 and ongoing professional development in wellbeing topics. He works part time as a counsellor and continues to update his skills.
People tend to find his approach straightforward and focused on everyday changes. He offers support for a wide range of life transitions, career stress, caregiver strain and issues linked to identity and relationships. Sessions are arranged in weekday evenings to fit around other commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexual dysfunctionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWorkplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
13+ years
Credentials
NCPS · United Kingdom
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches fit with online sessions
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person's experience and creating a non-judgemental space to talk. It helps when someone needs understanding, exploration of feelings, or a safe place to make sense of loss or change.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and introduces practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, stress, low mood and for learning coping tools that can be used day to day.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client will discuss goals and try ways of working that fit the person's needs. Adjustments can be made as therapy continues so the approach matches changing priorities.
If you are considering online work, please confirm the session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work or family life, reduce travel time and allow regular check-ins without leaving home. Different formats suit different needs - some people prefer shorter audio calls for quick check-ins, others choose video for a fuller conversational feel - so practical arrangements are discussed and agreed with the therapist.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns can be addressed?
Michael works with a broad set of issues including grief, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, trauma and compassion fatigue.
How would he approach my situation in therapy?
He combines Client-Centred Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to offer both emotional space and practical strategies. Sessions are tailored to the person's goals and needs.
How long has he been practising?
He has 13 years of experience, having completed counselling training in 2011 and continuing professional development since then.
Where is he based and what credential does he hold?
He works in the United Kingdom and holds NCPS as his supplied credential.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs and payment handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What should I do to begin therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.