About me
Hi I'm Jo and I am an experienced counsellor offering in-person counselling in Dorking and online counselling across the UK.
If you are looking for a counsellor, life is probably feeling tough for you at the moment. Perhaps you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, sad or have lost your way. I have helped and supported many people going through difficult times to help find their way back to a more fulfilled and happy life. Having previously worked for a mental health charity, a hospice and currently as a school counsellor along side my private practice, I have extensive experience in many challenges life throws at us and would be happy to have an initial call to explain how we could work together.
Many of my clients say I offer a relaxed, calm space to safely explore any life challenges, trauma from your past, difficulties in your current life or anxieties/concerns around the future. Together, we can work towards positive change and growth which may be through acceptance and understanding or by making changes to the way you view yourself or the world around you.
***How I work with my clients***
Every client is unique with different struggles and challenges, so I tailor my approach to each clients needs/personality. My aim to begin with is to make you feel comfortable and relaxed so its easy to talk openly and honestly with no fear of judgement. I use a predominantly person centred approach incorporating other recognised and established techniques and introducing problem solving and coping strategies, if needed, which are more goal focused and can help move forward with positivity. Some clients, especially children/teenagers, also prefer to work in a more creative way which has great results when words aren't enough or are difficult to find. We can discuss what you feel comfortable with and take it from there at your pace.
***Examples of clients/issues I work with***
- People feeling anxious, worried or overwhelmed
- Stress or burnout at work. Having worked in the corporate world for 20 years before becoming a counsellor I help people cope and manage their stressful careers along with maintaining a work life/family balance.
- Low mood, depression, lack of motivation and generally feel stuck
- Those struggling with grief and bereavement, loss of significant relationships or a job
- Low self esteem, feeling lonely/misunderstood and want to explore their identify and values in life
- People with relationships problems; partners, divorce, friendship issues, family conflict/estrangement and parenting challenges
- Adults/teenagers who have issues at work or at school; feeling anxious, burnt out, stressed or finding it difficult to communicate with others
- Parenting - pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, new Mums and Dads through to those with adult children. Each stage gives different challenges and I'm here to help navigate them with you.
- People who have experienced one or many traumatic life events in their past and feel they need to process to be able to move forward positively.
- Health anxiety/concerns or those living with or caring for someone with a chronic illness. I have Type 1 Diabetes in my immediate family and so supporting people living with chronic illness is a personal area I am passionate about.
There are many other reasons to explore counselling, these are just a few examples. Please get in touch if you feel counselling could help you.
*** Client testimony***
"Jo made me feel so comfortable and relaxed, I talked about things I hadn’t talked about before with anyone. I feel so much calmer and at ease in my life now. Jo helped me at a difficult time in my life, more than she will ever know."
***Next steps***
Finding the right counsellor can be daunting and it is important you feel comfortable and relaxed with the counsellor you choose. I offer a relaxed, free of charge 20 minute online or telephone session for you to explain your situation and for me to tell you a little more about how I work. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about therapy. After the consultation, you can decide if would like to continue and pursue short or longer term counselling.
Drop me an email. I respond to all enquiries within 24 hours. If you have not had an email reply, please check your JUNK/SPAM inbox, as my email may go there.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Level 5 Certificate Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- BA (Hons) Psychology - Cardiff University
CPD and professional training is ongoing and includes;
- Certificate in online and telephone counselling
- Child and adult safeguarding
- Grief and bereavement training
- Working with menopause in therapy
- Working therapeutically with disordered eating
- Trauma and the inner child
- CBT toolkit specialising in depression and anxiety
- Level 3 Advanced Self Harm Training - Harmless Academy
- SPEAK training - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide
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
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
All sessions are 50 minutes. I offer some concessionary rates for student counsellors and those with limited income. Please ask me for details.
When I work
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Further information
- Fully insured and ICO registered
- Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP)
- Regular monthly supervision in accordance with BACP ethical practice
