Joanne Copley

I currently have availability most weekdays and evenings, up until 8pm. I can be flexible according to your needs. However I don't work weekends.

I haven't got any days off or holidays planned for the foreseeable future

My name is Jo, I’m an accredited psychotherapist with the BACP, and I have over 12 years experience within the NHS, Employee Assistance Programs and private practice, working with a diverse range of clients.

I offer you a safe place to talk, without judgment, in which to explore your difficulties. I can help you to find your own insights and understanding of your problems, and together we can find solutions. It can be a great relief to share your worries and fears with someone who acknowledges your feelings and helps you reach a positive outcome and develop your potential. Some of the benefits of counselling can include increased self of confidence, better ways of coping, more fulfilling relationships.

Sometimes it can help you to explore underlying issues relating to your current problems, such as low self-esteem and lack of confidence that may have caused you to feel low and worthless, or may have resulted in you developing unhelpful ways of coping.

As an integrative therapist, I incorporate different techniques to suit your needs. I am fully qualified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Therapy and Mindfulness. It may be that you want to focus on CBT which can help you to challenge your negative thinking patterns, develop more healthy behaviour and focus on coping strategies for managing daily life.

It can sometimes be beneficial to look at issues from your past which can help you to understand the root causes of your difficulties, or to explore your early relationships with parents or care givers to give you an insight into how you learned to deal with difficult emotions. It may be that you have experienced traumatic events which have affected your outlook on life and your emotional wellbeing. Together we can work towards understanding the nature of your trauma and how to manage difficult symptoms such as panic attacks or PTSD. I will be guided by your needs and the pace you want to set and incorporate different techniques to suit your needs.

I work as an integrative therapist which means that I am qualified in different ways of working with people which can be tailored to suit your needs. At the core of my practice is a commitment to be ethical, compassionate and mindful of you and your needs as we work together. I will be guided by you, as the client, in what you bring to therapy and what problems or difficulties you want to focus on, encouraging you and building a trusting therapeutic relationship in which you can feel safe and supported. 

You may have heard of CBT from your GP or friends and you may feel that this could benefit you. CBT will focus on specific problems such as difficulties with asserting yourself, social anxiety, OCD or low self-esteem. We would work together to identify how your problems are affecting you, and developing your awareness of negative thinking patterns and intrusive thoughts and how they are making you feel. CBT can help you to develop healthier coping strategies, and let go of unhelpful ways of behaving. It tends to involve some written homework and exercises which can work well alongside a less structured approach in our sessions.

You may want short term or solution focused therapy which can be up to 6 sessions, to focus on specific problems such as work related stress or relationship problems. If this is for you, then we can discuss this in the initial session. 

Therapy can be just a few sessions and sometimes even one session may be enough. It may continue over several weeks or months, depending on your individual situation. We can discuss this before and during your course of therapy.

Sessions last for an hour, and are usually once a week. The frequency can vary according to your needs. In most cases, it takes a number of sessions before counselling really starts to make a difference, and a regular commitment is required to make the best use of the therapy

Our first session will mainly be focused on building up a trusting therapeutic relationship. I will do my best to put you at ease, in warm and comfortable surroundings. I have a counselling room at my house in Stapleford, or I have access to a counselling centre in Beeston. I charge slightly more for Beeston at £45 due to costs of room hire.

I will ask some questions in the initial session as I assess your problems and needs. I may ask about previous mental health difficulties and any medication you may be on. Your family and living circumstances can affect your wellbeing and sometimes it is useful to look at how these may be affecting you. If there is time, I may ask about your alcohol intake and sleeping patterns. 

I will discuss confidentiality with you and talk about what you can expect from your sessions with me.

I recognise that it is important for you to have a trusting relationship with your counsellor and you can use the first session to decide if I am the right person for you. There is no obligation for you to commit if you don't feel that I am the right therapist for you.