Jo Kirby

I work Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 6pm 

I’m a BACP Accredited therapist offering professional, compassionate counselling and psychotherapy in Market Harborough and online throughout the UK.

People come to me for support with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, health anxiety, panic, addiction, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and the impact of difficult or overwhelming life experiences.

You may be struggling with something that has happened recently, or finding that past experiences continue to affect how you feel, think and relate to yourself or others. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand exactly what is wrong, you may simply know that you don't feel like yourself.

My approach is warm, collaborative and non-judgemental. I believe therapy should be tailored to the individual rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. Together, we can develop a better understanding of what is happening and work towards meaningful and lasting change.

My approach is flexible and tailored to your needs. It may include psychodynamic therapy, which can help us gently explore how earlier experiences, relationships and patterns may still affect how you feel, think and respond today. This can be especially helpful if you notice repeating patterns, find relationships difficult, experience overwhelming emotions or understand something in your mind but still feel unable to change it.

I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and may use it alongside other well-established therapeutic approaches, depending on what feels most helpful for you. EMDR can be helpful after traumatic experiences, accidents, medical trauma, bereavement, abuse, relationship trauma and other distressing events. It may also help when past experiences continue to bring up strong emotional or physical reactions.

I may also draw on CBT, and psychological approaches to addiction, always adapting the work to suit you. 

I have a particular interest and experience in trauma, EMDR and addiction.

Alongside my private practice, I have worked as a relapse-prevention therapist within a clinical research trial conducted through King’s College London  involving psychedelic-assisted therapy for alcohol dependence. My role included preparation, therapeutic support during dosing, integration and subsequent relapse-prevention work. This specialist experience has strengthened my understanding of addiction, trauma, behaviour change and the complex relationship between emotional wellbeing and substance use.

For some people, therapy involves understanding patterns that have developed over many years. For others, the focus may be on a particular event, problem or current difficulty. We will agree the focus and pace of therapy together. 

I aim to provide a space where you can talk openly without feeling judged or pressured. Therapy can be challenging at times, but it should also feel purposeful and collaborative.

Whether you are experiencing anxiety, panic, health anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, low confidence or difficulties in relationships, we can work together to understand what is maintaining the problem and identify practical ways forward.

I offer both short-term and longer-term therapy, depending on your circumstances and what you want to achieve.

If you are unsure whether therapy is right for you, or whether I am the right therapist, please get in touch. We can discuss what is bringing you to therapy and whether I may be able to help.