Joanne Brown
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am an empathic and caring Accredited Counsellor working in a holistic and individual way, with you as the client at the centre of our work. I draw on a range of different approaches to help you as my client using various techniques and strategies to help deal with things like anxiety, depression and stress or just be with you in the moment as you take time to explore in your own time, difficult and feelings. Maybe you have relationship issues, problems at work, struggling with illness, loss or bereavement, understanding ADHD and Neurodivergence, Menopause or coming terms with difficult current and past life events.
Whatever your reasons I am here to listen you, to understand your world and help you make sense of all that it is around you in a safe, supportive and confidential space. I am not here to judge or make comment on your life choices, but what I can do is give you an opportunity to have a voice and be heard. Feelings of anger, hurt and frustration happen when we are not getting what we need from our relationships. I can help you explore how and why this is happening and given the resources you have help you work out how to make the lasting fulfilling changes that needs to happen for you to be in a better place.
Choosing a therapist can be daunting, maybe you have given counselling a try before and somehow, it has not worked as you wanted it to. or this is your first time and not sure what to expect. Talking with someone you don’t know at first can be daunting but and I would encourage you to go with your gut feeling as to what feels right with someone. As for me I will be real and genuine with you and allow you to be you. Sometimes it maybe that I will challenge you to look at different perspective on things, however I will do this with care and compassion for your needs. I will work with you on your critical thinking and help you to reframe your perceptions and ways of being. In doing so it can empower you to believe in yourself that you can and will make the right decisions for you. We will go at your own pace and agree between us the number of sessions that you might need, regularly reviewing our work as we go.
Stress
If stress is a huge part of your life, I will support you to understand how our mental and physical health are unequivocally interlocked and how one affects the other leaving you living in a vicious cycle of poor mental health, pain and fatigue. My approach is looking at the overall holistic approach to stress and how our body’s natural physical response to danger of the fight/flight/freeze response can debilitating in itself! I can work with you to help you identify your causes of stress and help you understand how early life experiences and or traumas are a direct contributing factor as to how we deal with our emotions and stress in the here and now. Our body’s store emotions and trauma and we need to be able to process these otherwise it will manifest itself in our physical self. Using a range of strategies and techniques I will work with you to help you understand and manage your ability to cope with stress.
It's Okay!
Sometimes it is not the right time or place to embark on this journey and it is important for you to know that this is okay. I will help you to learn to trust your inner instincts and thoughts and help you work out what is the right thing for you. Sometimes to walk away and then come back at a later stage is needed as Counselling needs patience, commitment, perseverance and courage to finally break negative thought patterns and behaviours which keep us in our current place of distress it also may raise many painful and difficult feelings which you may not be prepared for but this is all part of the healing process and not to be under estimated.
The Next Step
If you feel that I can help you give me a call. I offer a free initial 30 minute consultation for anyone who is unsure about how counselling can help them. We can discuss your aims at this session and how many sessions you may need, we will go at your own pace and time, whether this is short and focused or a more long term plan, whatever to suit your needs.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have worked in Local Government for the past 25 years in a variety of roles working with people who are experiencing difficult situations and challenging life events. I discovered I have a natural caring aptitude and ability to show empathy and set about training as a Counsellor. I qualified in 2014 in Therapeutic Counselling and from my roots I have developed my practice working with a wide range of therapeutic interventions, including Person centred, CBT, Transactional Analysis, Mindful Based Stress Reduction, Emotional Freedom Techniques, to name but a few. I have spent 7 years working as a Counsellor in Schools and the local community with Young People, I have also worked with survivors of domestic abuse. I qualified as a Stress Therapist in 2015 and I am a Mental First Aider advocating good mental wellbeing in the workplace. I undertake regular continuing professional development as part of my training and development. I am affiliated and an Accredited Professional Registered Member of the National Counselling Society which means I have demonstrated I have reached a high level of competency, skill and experiencing in working with clients and their needs. I Adhere to their Ethical Framework Principals and values. I undertake regular Supervision to ensure that I work safely and ethically with clients. I am insured, have advanced DBS, ongoing Safeguarding Training and I am registered with the ICO adhering to GDPR.
Member organisations
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 National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations.
In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. 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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Free initial in-person or telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
To ensure that I am the right counsellor for you I offer a free 30-minute consultation if required.
- £45 per 1 hour session
- Discount for block bookings - please enquire
- Limited availability for ages 11+ to 21 years in full time education - £25 per session
- University/College Students £35 per session
My therapy room is bright, comfortable, confidential and discrete and separate to my main property. Parking is at the front of my property. I also operate out of Therapy Centre in Blyth. Please note my therapy room at Blyth is upstairs with no lift.
When I work
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I am available Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
Tuesday and Fridays during the day
