About Michelle
Michelle Bentrup helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, low self-esteem and depression. She also supports those dealing with big life changes and the everyday strain that follows. Michelle presents as direct and steady, meeting people where they are and working at a pace that suits them.
Michelle has six years of experience in clinical roles and a long career in related work across community settings. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) and a Bachelor of Psychological Science, plus a Graduate Certificate in Adult and Vocational Education.
How Michelle works
She is a Clinical Member of PACFA and is completing a Master of Psychological Practice. Her approach is trauma-informed and recovery-oriented. That means she focuses on the person rather than the problem and aims to build trust and collaboration in sessions.
She adapts methods to suit each person, drawing on evidence-based techniques and a strong therapeutic relationship. Michelle often works with people facing abandonment or attachment issues, caregiver stress, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, impulsivity, isolation and loneliness, and concerns about life purpose. She also helps with social anxiety, women's issues and workplace stress.
In sessions Michelle aims for practical steps you can use between meetings. She values honesty, curiosity and hope, and she supports people through first steps, setbacks and ongoing goals. The focus is on what matters to you and how to move forward.
What Michelle works with
The areas below are the ones Michelle selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | PACFA |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 6 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Australia |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Therapeutic approaches and online options
Michelle draws on well established, evidence-based techniques to guide therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings and commit to values-based actions that move life forward. Schema-focused approaches look at long-standing patterns that shape how someone reacts and relate, then work to develop healthier ways of meeting needs.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will discuss options with each person, consider their goals and preferences, and adjust methods as progress is made. The aim is to find a fit that feels useful and practical for everyday life.
Online sessions are available with a range of formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for deeper conversations and visual connection, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits shorter check-ins and text messaging lets people reflect and respond in their own time. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving and travel commitments.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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