Joy Behrmann

My practice focuses exclusively on couple counselling & adult family counselling. My expertise is in relationship/family therapy and it is not an add-on to general therapy work.  

I am within easy reach of Golders Green, Hampstead, Belsize Park, Primrose Hill, Hendon & Finchley.

I am BACP accredited (this is an enhanced level of membership)

In addition to my private practice, I work for Relate, the leading relationship charity. 

I also counsel couples and families at a cancer charity and am very aware of the impact of health issues on relationships.

I formerly practiced as a family lawyer. This gave me insight into the emotional impact on couples and families facing disputes and conflict. 

I see clients at all different stages of their relationships. Some couples have been dating for a few months, others have recently celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.

Some clients come alone, to explore patterns in previous relationships which have created problems or to get over a recent break-up.

A family may have experienced difficult events in the past which have not been openly discussed and are continuing to cause alienation.

Whatever your issue, if there is a relational focus, I hope I can help you to achieve clarity and change.

 As a relationship & adult family counsellor, I enjoy working collaboratively and creatively with my clients to create opportunities for change and growth.

All clients and relationships have their own unique dynamic and although I am guided by theory and established techniques, I am flexible and versatile in my approach.

I try to make the sessions stimulating, challenging and constructive.

I am very interested in the way clients tell and interpret their stories and how two people can relate the same occurrence in such different ways.

I approach the work from a position of empathy, curiosity, creativity and hope.

Practice description

Whether you are married, living together, separated, a family or single, counselling can help you deal with relationship difficulties.

Relationship counselling cannot always solve your problems, but it should give you the tools to deal with them in the best way possible.

I have experience dealing with a wide range of issues including: -

• Communication & Conflict
• Sex & intimacy
• Parenting & blended families
• Life stages
• Affairs & trust issues
• Illness
• Money worries
• Separation
• Loss & bereavement

We can examine together what you bring to relationships from your earlier experiences. This may influence what you expect and take for granted. We will also consider how you connect and attach. You may both have different ways of receiving and showing love.

The aim is to have a better understanding of each other and to find a way forward to break the impasse. Assumptions and misunderstandings can be aired and discussed.

It is not unusual to hear a partner of many decades saying: “I have never heard you say that before or I never knew you felt that way.”

We often mind-read or second-guess our partners inaccurately.

I ask open questions to encourage novel ideas, different perspectives and change to emerge.

My first session

The first session will be an assessment. This is a chance for you to tell me what is happening and what you hope to achieve through counselling. I will explain how relationship counselling works and answer any questions you might have. This gives us a good framework to start the counselling.

I charge £95 for a 50 mins session for individuals, couples and families with 2 members. For families of 3 or more, I offer a 75 mins session for £120

My main working days for seeing private clients are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

I do have the flexibility to see clients at other times.