Joy Forsyth

I try to be flexible for clients within my working week, which is  Monday - Friday 9am- 5pm. 

I am a person-centred therapist who is open to using other forms of therapy and techniques for my clients’ benefit, however always using person-centred principles. My primary aim is to work with my clients in an open, accepting and collaborative way. Our connection is of primary importance and I feel strongly about ensuring that it feels honest, authentic and empathetic.

My job is to help my clients express sometimes very difficult emotions and feelings. I am there to listen, make connections which are sometimes subtle and maybe not obvious to the client,  I am there to help them to make sense of the situations, traumas, confusions, puzzles, pain and life experiences which have brought them to therapy. 

My practice is one where my clients should feel unafraid to bring themselves just as they are, with or without agenda, whether they can feel low or good in a session, and where humour as well as sadness is allowed.

I encourage my clients to let me know what they need from me and I check in on this on a regular basis, being happy to discuss if these needs change as therapy progresses. 

I have been working as a Person-Centred Counsellor since 2005. Prior to this, my background was in psychology- initially I did a BSc in psychology and then a PhD in forensic linguistics before becoming a lecturer in Psychology for 10 years. Whilst not being at the forefront of my practice, my knowledge of psychology has always been in the background in my work as a counsellor and helps to inform my work. 

My counselling experience has involved working in the NHS, charitable organisations, and many years of working with young people in a school context.

Currently, I work for a charity in Edinburgh which provides affordable counselling to people from all walks of life, as well as having a private practice.

In addition to working as a therapist, I have also worked as a supervisor since 2012 which I very  much enjoy, as it brings another dimension to my own counselling work.

In our first session we will primarily both be working out if we feel a connection and thus can work together. This is a time which can be nerve wracking, particularly if a client has not experienced therapy before, and therefore my job is to make my clients feel at ease as well as providing the conditions where they are able to express what they need from therapy. At the end of this first session I will check in with how my client feels, and whether they feel that working with me would be beneficial.