Jiaojiao Zheng

Welcome to my page and thank you for your interest in my private practice, my name is Jiao, I am a qualified and BACP registered Counsellor and psychotherapist. Currently I am offering individual online counselling to clients in Europe, including U.K, Spain, Netherlands, and Switzerland. Since qualifying in 2005, I have worked in a variety of settings such as university counselling centre, charities offering online counselling for young adults, EAP for employees, secondary school and mental health rehabilitation center.

I work intensively with the following issues and it is not uncommon that someone may have more than one of them at the same time:

• Anxiety: general anxiety, social anxiety, phobia, panic attack, day to day behavior related to anxiety such as procrastination, constant restlessness, unable to relax, constantly on edge, easily feel guilty, take too much responsibility from others
• Low self-esteem: low self confidence, self doubt, sensitivity to rejection and criticism, perfectionism, lack of assertiveness, impulsive behavior or anger, history of being bullied
• Stress: work stress, study stress
• Feeling sad, loneliness, hopeless, powerless, empty, oppressed, isolated
• Relationship: affairs and betrayals, drawn to same type of unhealthy relationship repetitively and/or can not walk away from it
• Bereavement & loss: health, family members
• Trauma: one time event trauma or developmental trauma
• Expat Issue: severe cultural shock, difficulties with relationship/family due to immigration/oversea study

As an integrative counselor, my client work is informed by various theories, including CBT, humanistic, and existential approaches. I also adopt and integrate other elements, such as solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, attachment theory, defensive mechanisms, and knowledge about complex trauma and neuropsychology. I individualize different approaches or techniques for each client when suitable, as I always bear in mind that there is no 'one size fits all' therapy, and every single client deserves a 'tailor-made' service.

In our session together, you will have a safe environment to express your feelings and thoughts bottled up in your mind without the worry of being judged - we all took different external and internal journeys to the place where we are now, I'm here to support, not to judge.

I'll be there to help you become more aware of the choices you have and develop a greater sense of ownership with yourself and your life, instead of drowning in the loop of your thoughts and being overwhelmed by your emotions.

I have a multicultural background, Chinese origin but have lived in U.S, U.K, Spain for more than eleven years. I take equal opportunities seriously and embrace the principles of diversity. I can offer therapy in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

Booking

I'm aware how the first step of reaching out for help and talking with a therapist can be daunting, scary and overwhelming, so I will assist you the best way I can. I am aiming to get back to you within 24 hours, so if you don't hear from me by then, please check your spam mail box. 

The first session

An initial 50mins consultation/assessment session is designed for all new clients to test whether we are a good match to work together.  It can be a chance for us to know each other a bit better before making the decision to carry out counselling or not. You can tell me what is troubling you at the moment and your expectation of our work together. We will have a bit of assessment to check your current status and discuss your preference of how to use the counselling service. 

You do not need to commit any further sessions by coming to the consultation/assessment session, only when you decide to carry on having counselling with me, your slot will be blocked out especially for you.

Accountability

I am a fully Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy). Membership of this professional bodies means that I abide by strict Codes of Ethics and professional practice. You can be assured of the highest standards of discretion and confidentiality.

Initial meeting/Assessment session 

The consultation session will be a chance for us to know each other a bit better before making the decision to carry out counselling or not. You can tell me what is troubling you at the moment and your expectation of our work together. It is also an opportunity for you to find out how counselling works, whether my approach suits you and whether you feel comfortable with me or not. We can also discuss the terms and conditions of our contract regarding to fees, frequency, suitable slot, confidentiality, data protection etc.

You do not need to commit any further sessions by coming to the consultation/assessment session, only when you decide to carry on having counselling with me, your slot will be blocked out especially for you.

Counselling session

If you decide to carry out having counselling session with me, your slot will be blocked out especially for you. Each session lasts 50 minutes/75mins and is usually on a weekly basis. I offer short term and long term counselling depending on your individual needs.

All sessions-before 6:00pm  £55, -after 6:00pm  £65

Online Session

*Please note that at the moment I am only able to offer online session(video call only) for clients in UK

I have been providing online counselling for more than 8 years. It helps save time and money for many clients and works as great as face-to-face therapy.

For clients who are not familiar with online therapy, An initial consultation/assessment would be a good way to test if you will feel comfortable or not in an online setting. Many clients, in fact, came with doubts but ended up with very positive experience.

Having a session online is different to, but not inferior to face-to-face therapy. Researches have shown that online counselling works as effectively as therapy in person, while in practice, it could show more advantages. It provides those who, maybe because of phobia or depression or disability, have difficulty stepping outside their home or find traveling extremely distressing a chance to access support and service.

In other cases, one can be free from squeezing in public transportation or traffic, trying to catch the counselling session at the other side of the city anxiously, which sometimes already drains your energy before you start the session. Meanwhile, a one-hour session can be a lot easier to fit in your tight schedule than a three-hour trip. If you were already struggling with anxiety and restlessness, travelling stress is probably the last thing you want to add on.

Other than these, many people have found that having therapy at the place they choose allow them to feel safer and in control. Especially when they have sessions in the environment that they have their daily struggle, it becomes very natural to connect with their deep feelings and I also get the opportunity to sense their difficulties in a more direct way.

For years, I have been able to develop deep emotional bonds, insights and go on incredibly internal journeys with many people around the world, even when we never met in person.

If you have a smart phone or a computer with stable internet connection and confidential space, online counselling may be a good option for you.