Michele Junges-Stainthorpe , BACP

Michele Junges-Stainthorpe is an experienced counsellor and therapist who supports individuals, couples, children, young people, and families facing a wide range of life challenges. Her practice covers neurodiversity and autism, ADHD, depression and low mood, anxiety and stress, bereavement and grief, eating and body image concerns, self-harm, life transitions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress, anger, gender and sexual identity matters, alcohol and substance-related issues, relationship difficulties, and long-term health conditions among other concerns.

Michele adapts her methods to suit each person’s needs, drawing on a broad set of therapeutic tools to help clients understand the roots of unresolved issues and build on their own personal, social, and practical resources. Her work aims to move beyond surface symptoms so clients can process underlying material and develop sustainable coping strategies.

Her background includes roles in teaching, serving as a school counsellor at an international school, positions with private companies and voluntary organisations, and work in private practice. Michele holds a BA in Counselling from Glasgow Caledonian University, a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (BTEC 5) from South Tyneside College, and a BA (Hons) in French, Russian and Politics from the University of Northumbria. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is fluent in French, welcoming clients who prefer to work in that language. Michele also offers a warm and supportive approach to children, teenagers, and adults navigating life within a predominantly neurotypical society.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Michele draws on client-centered therapy to create a supportive space where the client’s own perspective and goals guide the work - this approach focuses on empathy, respect, and helping people build self-awareness and self-directed change, useful for issues like low self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that helps people identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and to develop more effective coping strategies.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-informed techniques feature in Michele’s practice to assist clients who struggle with intense emotions or difficulties in interpersonal regulation by teaching skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and improved communication.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michele works with each person to explore what feels most appropriate for their needs, goals, and preferences, and she will adjust methods over time as the work evolves so the treatment fits the individual.

Online therapy with Michele is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to attend sessions from home or while traveling and support consistent progress when in-person meetings are not possible, while still enabling meaningful connection with licensed professionals and therapists.