About

Hi, I’m Michelle Wooderson—a musician, therapist, community gardener, and community herbalist based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I am a classically trained flautist, having studied performance at Sheffield University and a master’s in music therapy from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I’ve spent the last 25 years working as a music therapist and my specialism is palliative care, trauma, and mental health. I also have a private therapy practice located on an allotment in Belfast, where I offer individual therapy sessions and clinical supervision.

In addition to my therapy work, my deep love for the natural world has led me to train in aromatherapy, forest school facilitation, horticulture, and community herbalism. I work part-time as a community gardener and herbalist with Grow NI at The Larder Community Food Hub in East Belfast. I also facilitate Ecotherapy groups and individual ecotherapy sessions through Wave Trauma Centre.

As a musician and composer for many years, I now create solely under the name Starlyng, which was originally the name of my musical partnership with Belfast violinist and composer John Fitzpatrick. John sadly passed away in July 2023. A Little Herbal Hymnal is a book and a collection of songs I wrote and recorded following his death. It’s a love story that reflects my journey through loss, finding wonder, comfort and companionship in the natural world.

You can purchase the book on this site, along with some of the herbal remedies and teas mentioned within its pages.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope the book touches your heart.

With wonder, curiosity, and love.

x Michelle