Michaela Evans

Co-Founder 

I am a qualified counsellor with over six years of experience supporting adults, children, and adolescents, also, I am a member of the NCPS.

Alongside my counselling work, I continue to serve as a paramedic within a specialist mental health team, where I provide training and support across the trust. With over 24 years of experience as a paramedic, my background in frontline emergency care deeply informs my therapeutic approach, particularly in crisis situations and complex mental health cases. I am a registered with the HCPC.

My work also includes working in a high school counselling teenagers, offering emotional support during a critical stage of development.

Recently I have taken up the position as a counsellor in two care homes, where the main areas are loss and identify. 

I am passionate about delivering empathetic, person-centred care that draws on both my clinical and therapeutic expertise to support individuals through their unique journeys.

My key areas of interest include:

  • Bereavement,
  • Trauma,
  • PTSD,
  • Anxiety,
  • ADHD and autism.
  • Children and young people 

I hold the following professional qualifications:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills

  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

  • Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

  • Level 5 Diploma in Working with Children & Adolescents

  • Level 7 in Advanced Mental Health Practice

  • Level 4 in Safeguarding

  • LITE Suicide Prevention Training

  • BSc( Hon) Paramedic Science 
  • Level 5 diploma in Education and Training

 

 

 

 

Kim Townsend

Co-Founder 

I’m currently working as a counsellor supporting adults and young people with a variety of challenges including anxiety, grief, trauma, autism, and self-esteem. I qualified as an integrated adult counsellor in 2021 and as a children and young person’s counsellor in 2022. I’ve been practicing counselling for over six years and hold registrations with Social Work England and am a registered member of the BACP.

Before moving into counselling, I spent more than 25 years working with children, young people, and families across different care and support roles. My career began as a nursery nurse and nanny, I later qualified as a  social worker, where I worked with families, looked after children, older adults, and young people and adults, many with disabilities or complex health needs.

While I have experience within the Looked After Children system, my work has been broad and varied, this has included collaborating with foster carers, professionals, and supporting families through and partaking in court processes. These experiences have helped deepen my understanding of trauma, attachment, and the complexities involved in care and support.

My experience and understanding of trauma has led me to complete additional training in Eye Movement Desensitisation & reprocessing (EMDR), with both adults and children. 

My areas of expertise include:

  • Anxiety

  • Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASD)

  • Trauma

  • Pre-trial court support

  • Abuse and neglect

  • Self-esteem

  • Depression

I’m committed to continual professional development and regularly expand my knowledge and skills through training.

Qualifications

Counselling:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills

  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies

  • Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

  • Level 5 Diploma in Working with Children & Adolescents

  • EMDR Training (Parts 1,2 &3  for adults)

  • EMDR Training Part 1 with children 

  • Animal Assisted Play Therapy (Intro & level 1)

Other:

  • Diploma in Social Work

  • BSc (Hons) in Community Studies

 

 

Together at Bluestar Counselling Services.

Individually, we each bring our own skills, experiences and passions to the work we do. But it’s together that Bluestar truly shines. By combining our strengths, supporting each other, and sharing the same vision, we’ve built a service that puts people at the heart of everything. It’s this partnership that makes Bluestar Counselling Services what it is today – a place of growth, support, and hope for those we work with.