Shelley Bridgman

Shelley (Michelle) Bridgman is a British psychotherapist, coach, author, speaker & stand-up comic. She is mostly known for her work with children with Gender Dysphoria and her book Stand-up for yourself.

Shelley Bridgman was born in Northolt West London on a council estate, the youngest of four children. At the age of thirty she changed her gender from male to female.

Having left school with no qualifications, she had a variety of jobs until at the age of 19, having hitchhiked around Europe she began a career in the Travel Industry. She formed a travel company specialising in organising overseas conventions and was the CEO for 16 years, travelling to over seventy countries. She began studying and qualified as a Counsellor in 1991 and attained a Master’s degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy in 2005.

Shelley works with children who are Transgender or are struggling with their gender identity and is a regular commentator in the media on Gender Identity Issues with children. As a Keynote Speaker she speaks on the Art of Positive Change and on working with children with Gender Dysphoria. In 2016, she created The Change Creator Brand with a view to empowering entrepreneurs to make a difference in the world. She aims to shine a light on Diversity and to empower marginalised people to maximise their potential.

Her weekly podcast, The Change Creator, interviews successful entrepreneurs and Change Creators and she has had several media appearances speaking about Gender Dysphoria.

She is a member of The Professional Speakers Association (PSA), United Kingdom Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (UKCP), British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and World Professional Association of Transgendered Health (WPATH).

Her autobiography, Stand-up for yourself was shortlisted by Writing Magazine as best self-published book of 2014.

In 2014, Bridgman appeared in the developmental workshop of "Trans Scripts" a new play by Paul Lucas at the Lyric Theatre Bridport and the Actors Centre in London..