Michael Lipo

Generally, I have more availability during the late afternoon and evenings. The latest session that I offer is 20:00, and the earliest session that I offer is 8:00. Currently, Fridays have the most availability.

As an integrative counsellor, I believe in a personalised approach that tailors therapy to each individual's needs. My work draws from a range of therapeutic modalities, including:

Psychodynamic psychotherapy: By exploring unconscious patterns and beliefs, we can gain deeper insights into behaviour and emotions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviour.

Existential psychotherapy: This modality helps clients find meaning and purpose in life, even in the face of challenges.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): DBT is particularly effective for individuals struggling with emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.

Solution-focused therapy: This approach emphasizes identifying and building on existing strengths and resources to achieve desired outcomes.

Coaching: Coaching can help clients set goals, develop strategies, and overcome obstacles.

My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour without judgment.

Key aspects of my approach include:

Collaboration: We work together to identify goals and develop strategies for achieving them.

Challenge and support: I offer gentle challenges while providing unwavering support.

By combining these elements, I aim to help clients develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and a sense of meaning and purpose.

As an integrative counsellor, I believe that every individual's journey is unique. My focus is on understanding your personal narrative, including both conscious and unconscious scripts or narratives about your life.

By exploring common themes and underlying issues, we can gain valuable insights into the patterns of behaviour that may be influencing your experiences. Without addressing these underlying patterns, it is likely that similar challenges will persist in different ways.

Empowering Change

Through self-discovery and understanding, we can choose to break free from habitual patterns and embrace new ways of relating to ourselves and the world. This often leads to positive changes, a sense of empowerment, and increased autonomy.

Shaping Your Environment and Responses

Together, we can work towards:

• Developing assertiveness, confidence, and communication skills: To navigate relationships and achieve your goals.
• Managing emotions: To respond to situations in a healthy and constructive way.
• Addressing interpretations: To challenge unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs.

By addressing these areas, we can create a more fulfilling and empowering life.

Our first session together will focus on gathering a comprehensive understanding of your reasons for seeking therapy. While the format will be similar to subsequent sessions, we may spend more time asking questions and exploring your concerns in depth.

This initial exploration will help us establish a strong foundation for our therapeutic relationship and identify the most effective approach to address your specific needs. There is no formal assessment.

I have spaces available:

Monday 8:00 to 16:00

Tuesday 8:00 to 20:00

Wednesday 8:00 to 20:00

Friday 8:00 to 15:00

I have experience of working in children's homes as a therapist, and supervisor. I have supported new and experienced practitioners who use different approaches including non-directive, CBT, systemic & family. Supervision will be about developing the supervisee's practice, toolkit, confidence, and progression.

I am registered with the BACP and have necessary liability insurance. I have been a psychotherapist for eight years, and I have supervised other therapists who use a range of modalities and a breadth of experience including new therapeutic practitioners and experienced child psychotherapists.

My private work as an integrative psychotherapist influences my supervisory approach and style – I tend to use interpersonal development, existential psychotherapy, and elements of CBT in my practice. As such, I am familiar with the BACP’s ethical framework and the BACP’s Good Practice in Action documentation.

I provide supervision within a private children’s home, which requires me to be aware of certain systemic processes and to have an awareness outside of the therapeutic relationship. This also helps me to think of the individual, supervisee, or therapist as part of an interconnected network. I am familiar with certain legislation, safeguarding processes, and requirements of therapeutic provisions.

I have completed various supervision training including Essential Supervision Skills (BPS) and Advanced Supervision Skills (BPS). The latter which developed my knowledge and skills to provide supervision online and to groups. I tend to meet in person for supervision but have provided supervision sessions online for various reasons.

I use various theories and models within supervision including but not limited to: The Seven Eyed Supervision Model (Hawkins and Shohet); Heron’s Six Categories of Intervention; Proctor’s Three Function Model; Resilience-based Clinical Supervision. I encourage the supervisee to bring what they think is most important and develop a strategy for prioritising clients.

The first session will be used to familiarise ourselves with each other's previous experience, develop an overview of the supervisee's practice including workload and list of clients. A focus will be on establishing the supervisory relationship and identifying key areas that the supervisee identifies as important. The agreements and contract will be explored, and an agreement of how to work with each other will be identified.