Michelle Dunne , BACP

Michelle Dunne is a person-centered counsellor and a registered member of the BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, with a range of formal qualifications including a BEd (Hons) and a CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. She brings three years of clinical experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, family conflict, grief and loss, depression, and life transitions, along with work on relationship concerns, intimacy issues, addictions, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting challenges, and career matters.

Her practice emphasizes an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere where clients are encouraged to express thoughts and emotions honestly. Michelle values the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change and uses warmth, compassion and acceptance to help clients feel heard and understood. Her background includes roles working with people in crisis and with traumatic bereavement, so grief and loss are particular areas of focus and sensitivity in her work.

As a late-diagnosed autistic woman, Michelle enjoys working with neurodivergent clients and embraces diverse identities and family arrangements. She has experience with same-sex and heterosexual relationships and brings lived insight to step-parenting; she is also open to learning about polyamorous relationships. Outside of her clinical work she enjoys walking with her three dogs and travelling, and she brings that same curiosity and respect to supporting people who seek greater clarity, resilience and fulfilment in their lives.

Person-Centered and Motivational Approaches Delivered Online

Michelle draws on client-centered therapy to create an accepting space where the person-therapist relationship is central - the approach focuses on listening without judgement, reflecting back what matters to the client, and supporting self-directed growth. It is well suited to people seeking a compassionate environment to explore feelings, identity, relationships and life changes.

Michelle also uses motivational interviewing, a collaborative style that helps people explore their own reasons for change and build motivation at their own pace. This approach can be helpful for clients facing ambivalence around behaviours, addictions, or major life decisions and aims to strengthen personal motivation rather than impose direction.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work and Michelle approaches that choice collaboratively, tailoring methods to each person according to their needs, goals and preferences. Clients and therapist explore what feels most helpful and adjust the approach over time.

Online therapy with Michelle is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and needs. These options make it easier to access regular support from licensed professionals without the need to travel, fitting therapy into busy lives or across distances.