Jo Durao
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome to my profile!
My name is Jo and I’m passionate about supporting people with their mental health. That was what led me into psychology training over 20 years ago, where my journey as a therapist began. I have been working therapeutically with children, young people and adults since then, initially in different settings back in Portugal where I’m originally from, and then in the NHS since 2018.
Additionally, I have fulfilled the dream of starting my own private practice, which I named Namastherapy. The name naturally came to me a couple of years ago, it’s a combination of the words namaste and therapy. Whereas namaste can have slightly different meanings, for me it represents my respect, appreciation and gratitude towards the person in front of me. Therapy is simply an abbreviation for psychotherapy.
My approach to psychotherapy is a relational and integrative one. This means that I put the therapeutic relationship at the centre of the work and that I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to think about my work with clients, using them creatively and flexibly to tailor the intervention to the clients’ specific wishes and needs. I pride myself in providing a warm and holding space where I support clients gain a better insight and understanding about themselves, as well as the issues and themes they bring to therapy.
If you have any questions or would like a free 15-minute consultation, please feel free to reach out. The aim is to give you and I an opportunity to check if we are a good fit. Choosing to work therapeutically is quite an important step to take, so it’s imperative that you feel you are doing it with the right therapist.
Training, qualifications & experience
Throughout my career in mental health I have worked with people experiencing a variety of difficulties, many of them as a result of trauma. I have worked with people who have survived different kinds of abuse, frontline workers who work tirelessly to make everyone healthy, people who are neurodivergent living in a world often not understanding of their needs, people going through particularly challenging moments in their lives, amongst others. I also have lived experience of domestic abuse (as a child/teenager), dealing with emotionally immature family members, bullying (in both academic and work settings), perimenopause, betrayal, being ghosted, amongst others.
I hold an MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling from the University of Warwick and I'm registered with UKCP. This means that I am an accredited psychotherapist and that I abide by UKCP's ethics and code of practice.
I also hold a 5 year degree (Licenciatura) in Psychology from the University of Évora (Portugal), and Post-graduate diplomas in Psychological Assessment and Intervention with Children and Young People, and Social Work.
I am committed to continuing ongoing professional development and have embarked on different kinds of training for over 20 years (for example: trauma, domestic abuse, cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, systemic therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, pluralistic therapy, existential therapy, accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy, dissociation, attachment, self-harm, autism and ADHD, self-care, etc.).
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Throughout the years I have worked with people presenting with a range of difficulties such as, for example: low mood, anxiety, developmental and relational trauma, domestic abuse, challenging home and/or work environments, attachment issues, experiencing relationship breakdowns, burnout, diagnoses of personality disorders and PTSD, etc. I have significant experience working with people who are neurodivergent, frontline staff, and victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Please note that I hold concessions for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as people who are unemployed or on a low income, subject to availability.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
For specific times, please contact me. Thank you
Further information
Often, emails from private domains go into your spam folder. So if you email me, please include your mobile phone number so that I can let you know that I have replied to you and you are not left feeling that I never replied. Thank you so much!
