Michelle Mays

Play and creative Arts Therapist

Michelle Mays

Play and Creative Arts Therapist

Pronouns: She/Her

Hi I’m Michelle, a registered Play and creative Arts therapist. I’ve worked with children, young people and families for over twenty years, and over the last 7, had the privilege of being a therapist specialising in working with children with SEN and SEMH needs. I pride myself in being able to help children overcome barriers to therapy, whether they have had traditional therapy before and this hasn’t felt successful or if they are new to therapy and are feeling anxious or overwhelmed about the idea of this. I have three children of my own, two of which have struggled with mental health and are also neurodiverse. 

I have a variety of support I can offer, and will always try my best to offer a bespoke experience and tailor my therapy to the needs of the child/young person. I am able to deliver play and creative arts therapy, DBT informed therapy, Safe and Sound protocol intervention, PCAP( parent carer attachment play), EBSA, Therapeutic life story work.

I would love the opportunity to talk to you about what I can offer, and support you or your child on their journey.

Conditions & Difficulties Treated

Specialist Areas

  • Anxiety

  • Trauma

  • Bereavement

  • Self harm

Commonly Treated Difficulties

Therapeutic Approaches & Models

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Michelle works with:

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Client Testimonials

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Professional Training & Accreditations

  • MA practice based play therapy

  • DBT-A level 3

  • CFT level 3

  • PCAP

  • Safe and sound protocol

  • Registered with PTUK and regulated by PSA

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidenced based & well researched talking therapy. It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for many mental health problems.

    It is most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for many other mental and physical health problems.

    CBT focuses upon how your thoughts and behaviours impact upon your emotions and physical symptoms.

    CBT is collaborative treatment and typically involves doing homework tasks between appointments.

    It aims to teach you to become your own therapist, teaching you tools so you can keep using the strategies and techniques you have learned after you have finished therapy.

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic approach designed to help people heal from trauma and highly distressing experiences. When a person goes through psychological trauma or significant stress, their brain may struggle to fully process the event. This can leave the person feeling "stuck" with disturbing emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations that resurface as if they were reliving the experience.

    EMDR helps to reprocess these stuck memories, allowing the brain to resolve them in a healthier way. This often leads to a significant reduction, or even elimination, of distressing symptoms, improving emotional well-being.

    Recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2013 as an effective treatment for trauma and trauma-related disorders, EMDR has been extensively researched and proven to help with a wide range of psychological difficulties. The therapy follows a structured eight-phase protocol that ensures safety and guidance for the client. During sessions, bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements or tapping—helps the brain process traumatic memories in a controlled and conscious manner.

    Many clients find that EMDR can lead to faster, more lasting results compared to traditional talk therapy alone, making it a highly effective option for addressing trauma and other distressing life events.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a modern, evidence-based form of therapy that helps people change their relationship with difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences, rather than trying to eliminate them. ACT recognises that distress is a natural part of being human, and focuses on building psychological flexibility — the ability to respond to challenges in ways that support wellbeing and personal values.

    In ACT, you learn skills to notice thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed or stuck in them. This includes developing acceptance, mindfulness, and compassion, alongside identifying what truly matters to you. Therapy then supports you to take meaningful, values-led actions, even when life feels difficult.

    ACT can be particularly helpful for anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic health conditions, stress, and difficulties with self-esteem. It is often used alongside other therapeutic approaches, such as CBT, and is tailored to each individual’s needs and goals.

    Rather than aiming to “get rid” of uncomfortable feelings, ACT helps you create a richer, more meaningful life by learning to make space for your internal experiences while moving toward what matters most to you.


  • Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people manage self-criticism, shame, and emotional overwhelm, while developing greater self-compassion and emotional resilience. It was originally developed to support individuals who struggle with high levels of self-criticism or shame, but is now widely used for a range of mental health difficulties.

    CFT focuses on developing compassionate mind skills, including self-soothing, mindfulness, and understanding the balance between threat, drive, and soothing systems in the brain. These skills help individuals respond to difficult thoughts and emotions with greater kindness, clarity, and balance.

    A core principle of CFT is cultivating compassion towards oneself and others. Therapy helps you recognise and reduce harsh self-judgment, while building confidence, emotional regulation, and supportive ways of coping.

    CFT can be particularly helpful for difficulties such as anxiety, depression, trauma, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and difficulties managing self-criticism or shame. Therapy is collaborative, structured, and compassionate, supporting individuals to build lasting emotional strength and self-kindness.