Joe Purcell

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or simply not quite yourself can be difficult enough without then having to work out which counsellor you might actually feel comfortable talking to.

If you're reading through counsellor profiles trying to make that decision, I know the experience first hand. I've had counselling myself and I've been through the strange process of scrolling through photographs, qualifications and descriptions, trying to decide from very little information whether I might connect with that person.

I've experienced counselling where that connection was there almost immediately, and counselling where, despite someone's experience and qualifications, it simply wasn't. That has shaped the counsellor I want to be.

I'm Joe, and my style of counselling is warm, relaxed and down to earth. I take the work seriously, but that doesn't mean I think counselling needs to feel overly clinical or formal.

I'm a person-centred counsellor and draw on other ideas and techniques where they might be useful. My job isn't to tell you what to do or decide what you should be feeling. It's to understand your experience as closely as I can, be alongside you while we make sense of what's happening, and sometimes help you notice things that can be difficult to see when you're right in the middle of them.

The relationship we build is important. Some people can talk openly straight away; others need time before they know whether they trust the person they're talking to. Both are fine. I'm not interested in forcing conversations to become deeper simply because we're in counselling, and you don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to talk about. We can start wherever you are.

I also don't pretend that counsellors have everything figured out. My own experiences, personal development and training have taught me a great deal about anxiety, self-doubt, change, relationships, pressure and the expectations we can place on ourselves. I've learnt how valuable it can be to have another person genuinely rooting for you while you work things out for yourself.

There may be difficult conversations, moments where things don't make sense, and sessions where nothing particularly profound seems to happen. That's part of counselling too.

Alongside that, I think it's important that we notice the smaller changes: something you handled differently, a pattern you've started to recognise, a boundary you've managed to put in place, or simply that something which once felt overwhelming doesn't have quite the same hold on you.

My counselling service
I work online with adults and young people aged 12 and over, with sessions lasting 50 minutes.

My core approach is person-centred, with other techniques and ideas brought in where they fit the individual rather than following a fixed programme. This means our work can look different depending on what you're experiencing, what you need and what feels useful to you.

People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. You might be struggling with anxiety or low mood, feeling overwhelmed by work or life, putting enormous pressure on yourself, questioning your confidence or self-worth, dealing with difficulties in a relationship, grieving a loss, or simply feeling stuck and not quite sure why.

You don't need a diagnosis, a crisis, or even a neat explanation for what is wrong in order to come to counselling.

I also really value working with young people. I don't expect a young person to arrive knowing what they want to talk about, or even necessarily wanting to talk very much at first. Building trust comes first. I try to meet each young person where they are and give them space to be themselves, rather than making counselling feel like another adult asking questions or telling them what they should do.

I'm also happy to speak with parents or carers beforehand about how counselling, confidentiality and safeguarding work when supporting a young person.

All of my counselling takes place online, meaning you can attend from your own private space without needing to travel to an appointment.

I want counselling to be financially accessible where I can make that possible, so I keep a limited number of lower-cost spaces alongside my standard appointments.

If you're wondering whether I might be the right counsellor for you, I offer a free 15-minute introductory call. There's no obligation to continue afterwards. It's simply a chance for you to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions you have, and for us both to get a sense of whether working together feels right.

There doesn't need to be any pressure beyond that.

My standard fee is £60 for a 50-minute session.

I know that the cost of counselling can sometimes be a barrier, so I also keep a limited number of £45 concessionary spaces available. Making counselling as accessible as I reasonably can is something that is important to me.

We can talk openly about fees and availability during our initial conversation, with no pressure to commit.