Josh Hogan - Dip. Counselling MBACP

It's good to talk, even better to be heard. I like to help people find their voice by building a safe and trusting space together. I've worked with many issues, including:

• trauma, generalised anxiety, depression, addiction, compulsions, sexuality, coming out, shame, bereavement and loss, managing anger

About me: people often come to counselling feeling stuck and unable to move on from a difficult situation in their life, whether it happened recently or many years in the past. I try to work with this feeling of 'stuckness' by offering a calm and containing environment, where you can express exactly what you are feeling without fear of being rejected. I facilitate the core therapeutic conditions of empathy, authenticity and non-judgement, which are well established as a route to healing.

I'm particularly interested in working with young or older LGBT+ people who have been shown to experience poorer mental health than their straight / cisgender counterparts. I work in a primarily person centred way, integrating some CBT and psychodynamic techniques into the work where appropriate.

I have a deep interest in working with trauma, helping clients to give expression to feelings long buried that have kept them stuck. It is often through this expression that healing begins to take place. I encourage various techniques such as mindfulness and writing things down to assist this process.

I also have an interest in existentialism and the answers this can provide to those who feel lost or helpless in life. Thinkers such as Martin Buber and Victor Frankl have influenced my ideas in this area.

Experience: since qualifying as a therapist I have worked for the NHS offering short term, solution focused therapy to people who were referred by their GP's. I have also worked within a university counselling service providing free therapy to students. I've loved the broad diversity of people that have come through the door, having seen clients from a great range of age, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Location and fees: At present I work online and I am offering an initial consultation of up to 40 minutes for £20. This will be followed by weekly online sessions for £35. Normally I see clients in Central London.

What to expect: when you come and see me, initially we will discuss what you are looking for from therapy and how I work. I will provide a contract which outlines my commitment to confidentiality and adherence to the BACP's ethical framework. If we agree to work together, then we will see each other weekly for 50 minutes on an open ended basis.