Michael Leunig, BACP

Michael Leunig is a BACP member and an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist who combines formal training with personal experience to support people through life’s challenges. Born in Germany and raised in a family that moved frequently, he draws on early life experience and a personal journey through childhood trauma, depression, and anger to inform his compassionate clinical style. He is accredited with the GHR as a clinical hypnotherapist and recognised supervisor, and he trained at Salford University where he earned a degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Michael’s own healing began with mindfulness, and he progressed to become a Mindfulness Master Practitioner, teaching courses to groups and other therapists who wanted to add mindfulness to their practice. He later trained in clinical hypnotherapy and now delivers training in that area as well. His professional experience includes roles with Mind, the mental health charity in the United Kingdom, participation in the Blue Lights scheme supporting police, firefighters, ICU nurses, and counter terrorism officers, and work across NHS surgeries in the north of England using solution-focused approaches.

Now in private practice, Michael leads an award-winning psychotherapy and clinical hypnotherapy service recognised by SME News Awards and serves as Mind Coach for the Oldham Rugby League Football Team. He takes an integrative approach, drawing on person-centred principles, transactional analysis, cognitive behavioural techniques, clinical hypnosis, mindfulness practices, emotional freedom technique, and life coaching skills to help clients move forward. Michael works in English and German and has six years of clinical experience supporting people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem issues, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and family difficulties, career concerns, and coping with life changes.