Pankaj Joshi

Some availability weekday evenings and possibly weekends - enquire for further information

Do you struggle with issues like anxiety, depression, loss, relationships or trauma? Do negative thoughts stop you from carrying on a normal life or a restful sleep? Do you no longer  enjoy doing things or interacting with others? Are you mostly in a worst-case scenario thinking mode? Then I may be able to help you.

I am a qualified counsellor and registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), to whose standards of Good Practice and Code of Ethics I follow.

My core approach is Person-Centred, but I also draw on other therapy models to provide an integrative approach, which allows me to be flexible to your needs. This allows us to explore your feelings in the present and the past, and how they may affect relationships, thoughts and behaviour. Once we have identified what you need, we will work collaboratively to better understand your situation.

I will provide a safe, friendly, environment to build a therapeutic relationship based on empathy, genuineness and mutual trust – one that is free of judgement.

I have extensive experience in helping individuals with problems relating to family dynamics (including communication breakdowns); grief and loss; building self-esteem; isolation and loneliness; parent-child issues; inactivity linked to mental health diagnoses; cross cultural awareness, among other presenting problems.

Coming initially from a corporate background I understand work-related stress and the challenges that are faced in the workplace. Typical triggers include: excessive workloads; lack of support; coping with organisational change; harassment or bullying; toxic workplace relationship dynamics and the inability to ‘switch off’.

I also have significant experience in supporting those in higher education with the everyday challenges, pressures and high expectations they face while trying to shake off negative intrusive thoughts. I am also an accredited practitioner of the University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN).

Sessions are held weekly held online via MS Teams or Zoom, or by telephone.

Each session is 50 minutes long and costs £55.00

Regular reviews take place where we talk about what has been working so far, where the development areas still lie and whether I can do anything differently to benefit you.

The first session is for 30 minutes, free and will be online or by phone. I will ask you to complete a self-assessment of wellbeing before the meeting (which will be emailed to you). The session allows me to get a better idea of what your concerns are, where your mental wellbeing presently stands, what you want to achieve through the counselling and how I believe that I can help you. I will explain how I might work with you and give you opportunities of asking anything you are unsure of.

It will also give you a first sense of whether you might feel comfortable with us working together. After all, it can be daunting to share your thoughts and feelings with a stranger, which is totally understandable.

If you are uncomfortable about seeking counselling, I will try and help you feel relaxed and allay any fears or anxieties.

I will also explain our working agreement which includes session days and times, confidentiality, data protection, payments and cancellations.

You can then decide whether you wish to start therapy with me – you may decide this after this initial consultation or you may wish to think about it for a few days – it’s entirely up to you.