Michelle Robinson-Hayes, BACP

Michelle Robinson-Hayes is a BACP-registered psychotherapeutic counsellor, hypnotherapist, career coach and mental health trainer with a committed focus on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, relationship challenges and life transitions. She combines clinical counselling and hypnotherapy skills with practical coaching to support clients working on self-esteem, addiction, trauma, parenting, career concerns and a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues.

Before founding her private practice, Michelle spent many years in senior management roles in corporate settings, gaining extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, training delivery and team development. That background informs her structured, goal-oriented approach to coaching and workplace-related mental health needs, including support for caregivers and professionals facing compassion fatigue.

Michelle established The Listening Tree to provide affordable, local counselling and hypnotherapy services and has run the practice for over eight years. She is an experienced counselling supervisor and hypnotherapy supervisor, and she has taught hypnotherapy and counselling up to level 5. Her clinical training includes an advanced hypnotherapy course with Higher Perspectives, and she has completed substantial practical placements working with bereavement services, contributing over 150 hours with CRUSE.

Across her career Michelle has delivered training and mentoring to students and mature learners, supported people through EAP helplines and provided telephone and video counselling. She has accrued more than 1,000 hours of counselling and 500 hours of hypnotherapy, and has worked as an affiliate with organisations such as Anxiety UK, Ben, Mates in Mind, Professional Help Redarc, Randstad, Griefchat and Vita Health Ltd. Michelle works with adults on a broad range of issues and accepts international clients, offering flexible remote options to suit different needs.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Michelle

Michelle uses client-centered therapy to create a collaborative, empathetic space where the client’s own goals and experiences guide the work. This approach is helpful for exploring identity, relationships, self-esteem and life changes because it emphasizes listening, validation and the client’s innate capacity to grow.

She also applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and skills-focused, supporting people with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep and mood regulation by teaching tools for coping and problem solving.

Hypnotherapy is available as an adjunctive option for clients interested in accessing deeper relaxation, habit change or focused behavioral work. When used alongside counselling or coaching, hypnotherapy can support issues such as stress, sleep difficulties and confidence building.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process - Michelle will work with each client to assess needs, preferences and goals and then tailor a plan that may draw on one or more methods. This ensures therapy fits the person rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Sessions can take place via video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, allowing clients to choose the format that suits their schedule, energy level and comfort. These remote options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across locations and busy lives while accessing support from a registered professional.