Michele Junges-Stainthorpe, BACP

Michele Junges-Stainthorpe is a counsellor and therapist with extensive experience working with individuals, couples, children, young people, and families. Over her career she has supported clients facing a wide range of concerns, including autism and neurodiversity, ADHD, depression and low mood, anxiety and stress, bereavement and grief, eating and body image issues, self-harm, life transitions, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger, gender and sexual identity matters, alcohol and substance issues, relationship difficulties, chronic illness, and many other challenges.

She offers a welcoming space to children, teenagers, and adults navigating life in a neurotypical society and is fluent in French for those who prefer to work in that language. She also has some knowledge of Russian and German and is prepared to use those skills where helpful.

Michele tailors her work to each person, drawing on a broad range of therapeutic methods to meet individual needs and preferences. Her practice includes Schema Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy, DBT-informed approaches, Gestalt Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Her focus is on helping clients understand the roots of unresolved issues and process them, so they can identify and use their own personal, social, and material resources to cope and move forward.

Her background includes roles as a teacher, a school counsellor in an international school, work with private companies and voluntary organisations, and private practice. Michele holds a BA in Counselling from Glasgow Caledonian University, a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (BTEC 5) from South Tyneside College, and a BA (Hons) in French, Russian and Politics from the University of Northumbria. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which indicates membership of a leading professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Michele draws on client-centred therapy, which focuses on understanding each person from their own point of view and helping them find their own solutions, often suited to issues like low self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life transitions. She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to explore how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact and to develop practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and unhelpful patterns. In addition, DBT-informed techniques can help with emotional regulation, coping with intense feelings, and improving interpersonal effectiveness.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Michele works collaboratively with clients to identify which methods fit best with their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts her work as those needs evolve. This collaborative process helps ensure therapy is tailored and responsive.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy lives or those living at a distance. Michele provides sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving flexibility in how and when clients engage. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to access support from registered professionals without the need to travel.