Welcome
My name is Michael Chamberlain, and I am a fully qualified humanistic and person-centred therapist also undertaking further training in family and systemic therapy.
I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and work within their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I am also a certified Advanced Accredited Gender, Sex and Relationship Diversity Therapist with Pink Therapy.
I specialise in offering a confidential, emotionally and imaginatively creative space in which clients can explore their experiences and their relationships with the difficulties in their lives. The therapeutic relationship I offer is one in which lost knowledge about personal strengths are appreciated and those narratives about a person’s life are brought in alongside the problems and both are explored for what choices they could offer and what strengths are present to support and nurture in finding new ways forward.
I have experience working with a wide variety of different lifestyles, cultures and different presenting concerns. Among those, I have particular experience in working with neurodiverse clients, LGBTQIA+ clients as well as those practising ethical non-monogamy, and complex relationships. I also have a passion for helping people find their own voice, both for themselves and in setting healthy boundaries with others that acknowledge their own needs and respect for their own happiness.
What Does Working Together Look Like?
In my private practice, I work online and over the telephone. However, face to face work can be arranged in Arundel if you prefer. Sessions are usually fifty minutes and are initially on a weekly basis, however this is something that can be discussed and potentially adjusted to meet individual needs.
The foundation for all work is the belief that those seeking support have inherent worth and knowledge about their own life which makes them the expert on that experience in the therapy room. I work with diverse communities who haven’t always been treated well by the mental health professions – in my work, I seek to rebuild trust and understanding with those communities by being affirmative, respectful and aware.
My role as a professional is to offer the expertise I have, to provide support in the exploration of that experience, and to challenge and question when appropriate in order to help individuals explore their own understanding of themselves in greater depth. My role in this exploration is also to get as close as I can to seeing the world as you see it without judgement. Other important aspects of my role are to bring my genuine self – I don’t believe that being aloof or unknowable helps to build trust in the work – and to periodically encourage us to check in with the work and be sure it is still supportive, as well as to work together to identify what is most helpful in the identified endeavours.
I believe that the therapeutic space can be a creative one and doesn’t have to be limited to just conversation, although I am regularly amazed at how much that can achieve. If you love art, writing, music, or maybe something totally different which helps you express your experiences and feelings then I’d be happy to work with you in finding ways to bring that passion and connection into our ways of working.
Prior to a first session, you will be provided with a new client form and a provisional contract. Providing these is intended to help me be transparent about my working procedures and to gather import safety information. Doing this in advance gives us more time to focus on making a start together without compromising on providing an ethical and considered foundation for that work.
Work together can be short-term or long-term depending on individual needs. Regardless of the length of the work, you remain in control of whether you want it to end – I may suggest a final session to consider or finish off the work, but the choice remains yours.
Fees
Fifty-minute sessions for individuals are charged at £55 and relationship/couples at £65.
If you feel sessions of a different length would meet your needs better please raise this with me and we can work to find what would best support our work together.
I am sometimes able to offer concessionary rates – if this is something you feel you would need then please let me know.
Currently accepting payments by bank transfer.
Qualifications
Major qualifications:
- Accredited Advanced Gender, Sexuality, Relationship Diversity Therapist – Pink Therapy
- Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations – Foundation (Distinction) – Tavistock and Portman
- BSc Hons Degree in Person-Centred Counselling (2:1) – University of Brighton
- Diploma in Humanistic Counselling (Distinction) – Chichester University
- Certificate in Working with Couples – Tavistock and Portman
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling – Counselling Tutor
- Advanced Practitioner Certificate – Pink Therapy
Short courses:
- Trauma and the Body: Dissociation and Somatisation – Carolyn Springs
- Dealing with Distress: Working with suicide and Self-Harm – Carolyn Spring
- Working with Shame – Carolyn Springs
- Concerned Relatives Affected by Drug and/or Alcohol Use Counselling Training Course – Cranstoun
- Understanding Autism, Asperger’s and ADHD – CPD certificate from University of Derby
Ongoing:
- Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations – Intermediate – Tavistock and Portman