Joan Carter

Availability : 

Monday afternoon and evening

Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Saturday morning

I have 25 years experience as a qualified,  Independent Practitioner. In addition,  I have extensive experience working for the NHS, heading up a therapy service in one of the largest GP Medical Practice in the UK.

As a result, I have considerable experience in working with a wide range of issues including: depression, anxiety, including generalised anxiety disorder, coping with change and uncertainty, phobias, panic disorder, stress, bereavement and loss, pregnancy and childbirth issues and relationship issues. 

I am also a relate trained couple therapist. 

I am a qualified EMDR Practitioner. EMDR is the therapy of choice recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Exellence) for trauma and disturbing memories. I am trained in clinical hypnotherapy and mindfulness which helps with deeper relaxation techniques to offer greater support to traumatised clients. 

I work using an integrative approach which means I have training and experience in different ways of working which enables me to tailor the way I work to the needs of the individual.

I believe that the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is central to the work.

I work with adults and couples using a blend of approaches according to what best suits both the person and the issue you are bringing to therapy . Not everyone responds well to the recommended therapy for a particular issue so I prefer to be flexible in approaching your issues. 

In the assessment, we will discuss the issues you want to bring to therapy and your expectations and goals. 

We can discuss what is important for you in coming to counselling and what you hope to achieve, along with some family history, relationships and your current situation. It is important I get a sense of you in a wider context. We can also look at your expectations in terms of short-term, or long-term therapy. 

It is important for you to find a counsellor you feel comfortable to work with and for you to decide if you feel comfortable working with me. I always suggest you go away and take time to reflect on the assessment and come back to me if you want to go ahead. 

The initial assessment appointment will take an hour.

I am available for supervision , Monday afternoon.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Early evening and Saturday mornings. 

I hold a Post graduate Certificate in Gestalt Supervision  and I work with Existential, humanistic, psychodynamic and Integrative therapists using a model that focuses both on the client content , the process and the relationship. 

I  have supervised :therapists working for the NHS, working in schools, agencies that specialise in couple counselling, sexual abuse and rape, Bereavement, counsellors in prisons, hospitals, agencies covering baby loss, hospices, private practitioners both new and experienced. 

I offer a free 30 min introductory session in order to consider if we feel we are a good match for supervision work. We will consider what you need from supervision and whether I am the right person to support you and your work. 

After you have had time to reflect, following our initial meeting, should we decide to go ahead, we will make arrangements for our first supervision session.