Michael Ellis

You might be struggling with some particularly difficult feelings such as depression, stress or anxiety? Or with long term difficulties: trauma, dealing with abuse, low -self-esteem. And you might need a safe space to reflect on your life and the next steps for you.

In my work I aim to help develop awareness, resolve psychological difficulties, improve communication skills, and in doing this help you to enhance your capacity for personal and professional satisfaction in life.

I draw substantially on gestalt theory and practice which emphasises the development of awareness in the present moment, exploring the current lived experience and the contact which develops between the therapist and client.
I have also trained in family therapy and make use of psychoanalytic thinking which takes the view that we are often moved as much or more by unconscious processes and deeply held fears and conflicts as we are by conscious ones.

I have also trained in EMDR ( Europe Accredited ) which can be very effective in dealing with trauma and PTSD as well as other concerns.

About Me

I am a psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor and consultant with over thirty years of experience. I have a background in social work and youth work including therapeutic work with families and children. And I have extensive experience of training design and delivery, predominantly in the public and voluntary sector. My MA is in organisational consultancy from the Tavistock and I work with teams and organisations in the health service as well as the private sector and with voluntary agencies. I have been involved with the Gestalt Centre for over 30 years, as a faculty member and for 15 years as Managing Director. Currently I am a visiting tutor and runs the Groupwork programmes there. I continue my psychotherapy, counselling and supervision practice and also provide training in groupwork for different agencies and facilitate groups for community leaders.

I work with

• Couples
• Groups
• Individuals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.