Jo Hooper

I offer sessions from 8am to 7pm, as well as some weekend appointments. I work online via Zoom and face-to-face in a private therapy room in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire.

My name's Jo and I’m a BACP-registered integrative counsellor. 

I know that reaching out for help can be hard – perhaps you've always tried to cope alone, or perhaps you're worried about becoming overwhelmed. I want to assure you, that whatever you're feeling, we can face it together.

In our sessions, I’ll listen with compassion and without judgement, creating a safe space where we can talk about the difficult things that have happened in your life, whether that's childhood trauma, abuse, relationship difficulties or bereavement. Perhaps you want to heal past hurts, or want to explore the deepest, most vulnerable parts of yourself and understand who you really are. Together we can find a way out of the maze of your thoughts and feelings.

Perhaps you want to talk about difficulties you are experiencing right now, such as feeling anxious or depressed, struggling with life changes or stress, or having issues in relationships. Perhaps you’re a parent and are worried about your child and their anxiety or their behaviour, or want to help them with exam stress.

I’m a warm and friendly person, and I believe that the compassion, kindness and hope I will bring to you, and the trusting relationship we’ll form, can really bring about change. We'll explore together, so you can understand yourself better and find the resilience to move forwards.

As an integrative counsellor, I use a number of approaches tailed to suit your individual needs and wants. Key to my approach is the relationship that we'll form together, built on trust, openness and acceptance. I describe it as going on a car journey together. You'll be in the driving seat, but I'll be right there with you. I might point things out along the way that I notice, or invite you to try a different direction.

I use some CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques, because I believe these can really help in making sense of your feelings, thoughts and behaviours. We may also look at your relationships, your past, and how you feel about yourself. I'm also trained and experienced in working with trauma. I understand the impact that difficult experiences can have on us, and I can help you find ways to cope and feel more at ease with yourself and your place in the world.

I’m also experienced in working with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, childhood trauma, bereavement, insomnia, identity, family dynamics and toxic relationships, among many other issues. I work with adults, children and young people. 

As well as my private practice, I offer counselling to young people and staff in a secondary school, and I work as a counsellor in Luton All Women’s Centre, supporting women who have experienced abuse, domestic violence and coercive control.

I know it can be hard to reach out for help, and it's important to find a counsellor you feel comfortable with. That's why I offer a free 15-minute telephone call in which we can get to know each other and you can ask any questions you might have.