Michele Junges-Stainthorpe, BACP

Michele Junges-Stainthorpe offers calm, practical support for people facing midlife challenges and major life transitions. She works with adults on issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain and career uncertainty. Michele also helps with trauma, grief, ADHD and questions about intimacy and self-worth. She welcomes conversations in English and French and aims for a straightforward, compassionate approach.

Michele adapts her way of working to each person's needs. She draws on client-centred methods to hear what matters most to the individual. She uses cognitive behavioural ideas to spot unhelpful thinking and find manageable ways to change it. Dialectical behaviour therapy techniques are included when people need help with emotional regulation and coping skills.

Her background includes time as a teacher and a school counsellor in an international setting, as well as roles in voluntary organisations and private practice. Michele has a BA in Counselling from Glasgow Caledonian University and a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (BTEC 5) from South Tyneside College. She also holds a BA (Hons) in French, Russian and Politics.

Michele is a BACP member, which is recorded as a credential. Her work focuses on helping people find the roots of long-standing issues and make practical steps forward. Conversations tend to be steady and goal-focused, with attention to feelings and personal history where helpful.

Many people looking for help with midlife decisions, loss of direction or relationship questions find Michele’s style accessible. She aims to work collaboratively so clients leave with clearer choices and manageable next steps.

How Michele’s approaches work well online

Michele uses client-centred work to build a collaborative relationship. This approach focuses on listening and reflecting so the person feels heard and understood, which can help when sorting out midlife choices or relationship worries.

She also draws on cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and finds small experiments to try between sessions. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood and sleep problems because it gives concrete tools to change daily routines and thoughts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Michele will discuss goals, preferences and what has helped or hindered in the past, and then suggest a mix of methods to try. The emphasis is on collaboration so the person has a say in which techniques feel helpful.

If you are considering online therapy, check which session formats are offered before booking. Confirm the specific options available for scheduling and how sessions are held. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when that suits your schedule, while still letting you try practical exercises and coping strategies between sessions.