About Us

The Sunshine Project was founded by Michelle Major in 2012 after a lengthy career in leadership roles within the financial services industry.  Since then Michelle has grown The Sunshine Project organically, supporting a wide range of organisations and clients throughout Northern Ireland and further a afield. Michelle won the prestigious ‘Business of the Year’ award in November 2016 from the Local Women Business Awards.

Sunshine Services

Michelle has developed a range of trauma-informed and evidence-based emotional wellbeing courses, trainings & workshops specifically designed to empower adults and children with the somatic tools & techniques to manage the stress in their lives and to invite more regulation & responsiveness to their Autonomic Nervous System.

Our clients include community organisations, public & private sector, corporate organisations, education sector, conferences & events. If you are interested in one of our unique programmes or coaching, please contact us here

Michelle Major

Work with Michelle

Michelle is a Certified Somatic Experiencing Trauma Practitioner, Senior Accredited Resilience Coach, and International Accredited Trainer, specialising in stress, pain & trauma.  

With 12-years of experience with clients and groups, Michelle offers 1-2-1 therapeutic support, group facilitation, mentoring & professional training.

Michelle offers a unique embodied learning opportunity, integrating nervous system education and experiential somatic practice.

Michelle is a Professional Member of:

  • ANLP – Association of Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioners 
  • IPMH International Accredited Training Provider
  • Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists & Hypnotherapists 
  • Taireasach – Association of Somatic Experiencing® Practitioners in Ireland
  • Somatic Experiencing® International 
  • Anti-Victim Blaming, Trauma Informed Network
Michelle Major

Sunshine Services

Coaching & Mentoring

Somatic Experiencing Therapy

Professional Training

International Accredited Training

Community, Education & Business

Community & Corporate

How we have helped others…

Definitely feel my mood has changed to move positive & feel much less stressed mentally – I’ve laughed it all out!
Natalie, attendee of Breathe, Laugh & Relax class
Feel more energised, calmer & relaxed…had been having chest problems & feel this has helped
Alma, attendee of Breathe, Laugh & Relax class
The BE HAPPY NOW course really gave me a lift and awakened interests. I found it really helpful. The course tutor was fantastic, enthusiastic and inspirational.
Louise, Attendee of Be Happy Now programme
Laughing – something I need to do more of, as I work in a very serious environment. Thoroughly enjoyed this totally unique experience. So interesting. So contagious. Thank you
Sarah, attendee of Laughter Workshop
I had the pleasure of participating in Laughter Yoga with Michelle recently. Michelle brought a smile, a giggle, a hearty laugh not only to my face but to my soul. I have no doubt this has changed my outlook in everyday life. I now use the simple exercises every day and use Laughter yoga as my free vacation from the busy busy world
Maria
Good therapy as well as team building
Peter, attendee of Laughter Workshop at a team development day

“I attended and completed laughter yoga leader training yesterday ,it was a wonderful experience and I would recommend Michelle to anyone or any organisations as she is in one of the most authentic, congruent and fun trainers out there, just wish it had been longer, if you are thinking about it just do it as you won’t be disappointed.

Mark Aspire
Absolutely brilliant. Learning to be free to be able to laugh, without self-consciousness is freeing
Deborah, attendee of Breathe, Laugh & Relax class

I completed Laughter Yoga Leader training with Michelle. She is a skillful facilitator who brings knowledge and insight to the sessions. Her calmness and obvious joy in what she does is contagious and allows participants to fully immerse themselves in the experience without any sense of being self conscious. I can’t recommend her highly enough

Joanne McCauley

I completed Michelle’s two-day laughter yoga training last week in beautiful Co.Donegal.

Michelle was amazing, she made us all feel so comfortable so that we got the best out of the training. Her knowledge in this topic was delivering in a professional but fun way. She showed up for us, helped us connect to a part of ourselves that, let face it we don’t connect to enough! I experienced exactly what it’s said on the tin, laughter, laughter and more laughter ! The content, exercises and business side of the training with delivered with love . I felt so uplifted, energised and connected to myself when I completed this course. I would highly recommend doing this training and bringing it out to your communities.

Sinead Mc Ilvenna
Michelle delivered the ‘Be Happy Now’ course to clients within our service, AMH New Horizons, a wide range of people of all ages, both males & females participated. It was an excellent course which included: Affirmations, forgiveness, gratitude, peak positive state & laughter therapy myself & clients really enjoyed all the sessions. The course offered lots of different positive ideas & tips for good personal well being, stress reduction, & relaxation techniques. The feedback & evaluations were excellent with clients involved very enthusiastic & said they could use information gained in the future.
Colette, AMH New Horizons
This is a completely new concept to me and I am very glad to have attended, as it has made me aware of the state of my mental health/emotions and has given a me a way to improve
D. McCabrey
Michelle has facilitated Laughter Yoga sessions for some of East Belfast Community Development Agency’s health events and the response from participants has been great. We find that people of all ages really engage with the session and thoroughly enjoy it. On one occasion we closed a day-long event with a session of Laughter Yoga and found it a really nice way to round off a busy programme. Michelle is very good at getting people to open their mind and get involved and it’s a great way to break the ice and build camaraderie among a group.
Clare, Community Development Officer
The BE HAPPY NOW course was a lovely programme with excellent relaxation techniques
I would love to see a lot more of these classes. I work in mental health & feel these therapies are invaluable
Colette, attendee of Laughter Workshop