Michelle Robinson-Hayes , BACP

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is a psychotherapeutic counsellor, hypnotherapist, career coach and mental health trainer with ten years of professional experience. She is registered with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and combines clinical training with practical coaching and organisational expertise to support clients through a wide range of life challenges.

Before establishing her private practice, Michelle spent many years in senior management within corporate industries, gaining extensive experience in team leadership, strategic planning, setting targets and delivering training. That background helps her bring structure, clear goal-setting and a solution-focused approach to therapeutic and coaching work, while retaining an empathic, client-led stance.

Michelle founded The Listening Tree to provide accessible counselling and hypnotherapy locally and has run the practice for over eight years. She has taught hypnotherapy and counselling to students up to level 5, supervises counsellors, and is a qualified hypnotherapy supervisor. Her training includes advanced work in hypnotherapy and she has completed substantial clinical hours, including over 1,000 hours of counselling and around 500 hours of hypnotherapy.

Her experience also includes extensive bereavement work, with volunteer placements and more than 150 hours supporting people through loss. She has provided mentoring for students and mature learners, worked with employee assistance and helpline services, and offers telephone and video counselling. Michelle works with many presenting concerns - including stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma, parenting and career issues - and adapts her methods to each person's needs and goals.

Approaches used in online therapy and how they help

Michelle integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy into her online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s own experience and priorities - the therapist offers empathy, active listening and support so the client can explore feelings and make personal decisions. This approach is helpful for relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns and navigating life changes.

CBT is a practical, problem-focused method that helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop new coping strategies. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress and sleep or eating difficulties because it combines thinking, behaviour and goal-setting to produce change. Hypnotherapy involves guided relaxation and focused attention to support behaviour change and symptom relief; it can complement talk therapy for issues such as anxiety, habit change and trauma-related symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will work with each person to explore their needs, preferences and goals and may combine elements from different methods to find the best fit. Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer practical flexibility, making it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel. These options allow clients to access licensed professionals from different locations while maintaining continuity of care and regular appointments.