Jo Hooper
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi My name's Jo and I'm a BACP-registered counsellor working online across the UK, and face-to-face in a quiet, private therapy room in Hertfordshire. I'm also a warm, kind and friendly person, who is skilled in working with people of all ages and all experiences. I believe that the compassion, kindness and hope I will bring to you, and the trusting relationship we'll form, are what will help you move towards a happier future for yourself.
I know that reaching out for help can sometimes be hard – perhaps you've always tried to cope alone, or perhaps you're worried about becoming overwhelmed. I want to assure you that whatever you're feeling, we can face it together.
- Perhaps you feel anxious, and find yourself overthinking all the time.
- Maybe you're stressed out, overwhelmed, desperate for a good night's sleep, or finding yourself lashing out at loved ones.
- Maybe you have a critical internal voice that you wish you could silence.
- Have you experienced a loss and want to explore what that means for you?
- Maybe you feel stuck and unable to make the changes you long for.
- Maybe you feel lost, wishing you could regain some confidence or purpose.
- Or perhaps you want to heal, or want to explore the deepest, most vulnerable parts of yourself and understand who you really are.
At the centre of every session will be you – your thoughts, your feelings, your memories, your experiences, your pain. And as we explore these together, you'll begin to make sense of how you feel and discover the changes you want to make. I may gently challenge you to notice unhelpful patterns, and I will bear witness to the difficult things that have happened, whether that's loss, betrayal, trauma or abuse – there is nothing you can say that I'm not OK with hearing.
I work with children over 14 and adults. As well as my private practice, I have worked with young people and staff in a secondary school, and at Luton All Women’s Centre, supporting women who have experienced abuse and coercive control. I’m experienced in working with anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism, disordered eating, bereavement, insomnia, low self-esteem, family issues, and self-harm, among many other issues.
How does counselling with me work?
As an integrative counsellor, I use a number of approaches tailed to suit your individual needs. Key to my approach is the relationship that we'll form together, built on trust, openness and acceptance. I describe it as going on a car journey together. You'll be in the driving seat, but I'll be right there with you. I might point things out along the way that I notice, or invite you to try a different direction.
I use some CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques, because I believe these can really help in making sense of your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. We may also look at your relationships, your past, and how you feel about yourself. I'm also trained and experienced in working with trauma. I understand the impact that difficult experiences can have on us, and I can help you find ways to cope and feel more at ease with yourself and your place in the world.
Next steps:
It can be hard to reach out and taking that first step towards counselling can be daunting, which is why I offer a free 20-minute phone call in which we can get to know each other. I’ll answer any questions you have, and we can explore any worries, as well as your needs and expectations. If you think we’ll be a good fit, we can then agree our session times, etc.
Training, qualifications & experience
Counselling qualifications:
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Open University/BCAP Certificate in Counselling Online
Training and CPD:
- Working with Relational Trauma and Disorganised Attachment
- Domestic abuse/harmful practices
- Safeguarding children
- Eating Disorders in Children and Young People
- Trauma-informed counselling
- Introduction to Therapeutic Groupwork
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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Further information
As well as face to face, online and telephone sessions, I offer walk and talk therapy in Harpenden
