Hayley Carmichael

I've been a therapist for over a decade and if I've learnt one thing it is there is no issue too big or too small for therapy, if it feels like you want to try it, or that you need to do it - then that is all that matters.

Entering therapy can feel like a difficult decision to make; I appreciate the trust placed in me as a therapist when you decide to start therapy and we will work together throughout your therapy in a safe, confidential way.

Perhaps...

You feel stuck and cannot explain why

You are coping on the surface but struggling underneath

You keep repeating the same pattern in relationships

You feel angry - or sad - or flat, all the time

Your past feels like it lives in your present

The therapy I offer can help.

I work with adult individuals in 50 minute sessions, which take place online so you don't need to travel to me and you can have your session from a space that feels safe and secure for you whether that is at home or another safe space. I ask that you make sure you are alone and feel comfortable talking for our sessions.

Sessions are via MS Teams - this provides a secure link for your confidential session online.

The fit, between therapist and client is important so I offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation so you can see if therapy with me feels right for you and I can find out a bit more about what you're looking for and what you hope to get from your sessions.

I also have training in CBT and systemic approaches to therapy which I can bring to our work together if suitable, taking a more intergrative approach. The therapeutic relationship is also a key part of how we work. Ultimately I want to work with you in a way that will be helpful both in terms of reducing symptoms and dealing with what is underlying to cause the symptoms in the first place.

During therapy we might explore key relationships, significant life events, dreams, your upbringing and important memories, along with those unconscious aspects of yourself so that you can make more informed choices and develop a better understanding of what makes you tick and what you want for yourself, with support every step of the way.

I work with a range of people and issues; this includes:

Coming to terms with severe, chronic or potentially terminal illnesses

Anxiety, depression or low self esteem

Trauma whether recent or from childhood - I work a lot with complex PTSD

Relationship difficulties

Life changes including loss and grief

In addition to my private practice I am also a clinical assessor for a counselling charity and pastoral tutor on a counsellor training programme, as a well as seeing clients for the South West Ambulance employee assistance programme.

In the past I have worked for the Rock Clinic in Brighton and I have worked for Sussex University Counselling Service.

I can work both with brief therapy (anything from 6 weeks to 3 months) or longer term open ended therapy.

Please do get in touch if you'd like to have a 15 minute free consultation to see if therapy with me is right for you.

I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counselling from Brighton University and an MSc in Psychotherapy also at Brighton University. I am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. In order to mainatin accredited membership I undertake CPD every year. I have also completed a course in online counselling.

I am always willing to explore with you what you are looking for, and if I'm not the right therapist for what you need I can suggest other options for you to try.

I am experienced at working with complex PTSD, trauma, grief, childhood abuse, loss and issues with self esteem, anger, anxiety and depression. There is often overlap between these things, and I am seeing more ADHD/neurodivergent links too.

Therapy is for you - a unique amount of time that is soley for you each week. Each client is different in what they need, even if bringing similar issues.

My training covers several types of therapy approaches from psychodynamic to CBT and I am more integrative in my style of working, bringing in what will be best for you from my training and experience.

I will work with you, on a one to one basis to make sure you are getting what you need from the work we do togther and we will have periodical check ins as we progress to make sure we stay on track, or to discuss when we might bring the work to a close.

Our feelings, motives, and decisions in the present are often powerfully influenced by what has happened to us in the past. We are generally not aware of the ways our past impacts on our present, it happens unconsciously - in that part of the mind that we can't quite access usually, when we realise we are doing things we haven't really thought about. My therapy is mainly based on this approach which is known as psychodynamic and my aim is to help you become consciously aware of what you are doing/how you are in relationships with others so that you have more choice about whether your approach is best for you at this point in time.