Ioana Hunt

I offer flexible hours in the afternoon and most work week evenings except for Fridays.  

Trust your inner voice. 

“I am committed to your happiness,” I once told a client.

Connection, feeling alive and having authentic relationships are what we humans often most want and often struggled to get: to be seen, heard and understood like our existence makes a difference to others and the wider world.

The pressure we feel from work, lack of support or understanding from family and friends when yet again those all too well known unsettling, worrying thoughts come up. Then we start to doubt ourselves and our mood changes for the worse, we lose our motivation and our joy of life.

Prioritising ourselves and practising self-care can make us feel guilty, questioning our self-worth especially if we’ve had to change work places, home or country. 

What have previous clients have said:

“Talking to you is like accessing a deeper part of myself that I can’t easily connect with.”

“I think that you know me better than I know myself but you’re trying to find a way to guide me to understand myself by myself. You can read me really well.”

“You seem to have this transpersonal way of understanding a person.”

Training and Qualifications

• Master’s in Russian and Eastern European Studies, Manchester University
• CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Reading
• CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies, Reading
• CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Skills, Reading
• Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling, Counselling Tutor
• Open Certificate of Higher Education, Open University

I’ve taken further training courses among others in the following areas of interest:

• Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC) Training with Dr. Ramani Durvasula

• Mastering Polyvagal Theory for Trauma Professionals: A Start to Finish Trauma Certification Program with Arielle Schwartz, PhD and Sherrie All, PhD

• Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Level 1 Certificate Course with Dr. Susan Johnson

My approach is integrative where through mirroring your true self and providing psychoeducation, I will support your emotional regulation. Any past issues will be addressed to promote self-compassion and mindfulness. 

Growing up in controlling, authoritarian and narcissistic environments, I experienced fundamental societal changes early on. Driven by intellectual curiosity, my previous career was in teaching English to adults which took me to various countries in Europe and Latin America, where I worked in multi-cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. Upon moving to the UK, I started to manage a small company while continuing to teach.

Bonding with my adult students beyond teaching, they would open up to me about their issues living in a foreign country. In an attempt to offer some better help and maintain boundaries, I embarked on a journey to acquire counselling skills understanding the need for belonging, among the isolation, loss and grief.

I’ve been volunteering for more than a decade offering translation and editing services promoting holistic wellbeing based on yoga philosophy and practices. As such, I incorporate tried and tested meditation and mindfulness techniques into my somatic trauma therapeutic approach. This includes outdoor therapy (walk&talk) to benefit from the emotional healing of nature and physical movement too.

Last, since I’m an keen reader and I like to stay up to date on research regarding therapy and wellbeing, I’ve created Booked for Therapy, a YouTube Channel featured on Facebook and Instagram too. This is based on a monthly women’s circle in the form of an online therapy book club I run together with a number of mostly fellow therapists. The channel so far features detailed visuals on a wellbeing book teaching basic life skills benefitting from the healing power of art to include female artists as an additional resource to therapy. Book trailers on several discussed books to follow. 

#bookedfortherapy

Online Therapy

•I offer a free 30-minute introductory video call before starting therapy.

• During this call, we discuss what brings you to therapy and explore whether we are a good fit.

• If you decide to work together, I will send you a terms agreement by email, which includes basic information needed for our safety.

• We will review this agreement together in the first session to make sure we are on the same page.

• In the first session, we will also identify your therapeutic goals, which may evolve as your needs change.

Outdoor Therapy

• Before starting outdoor therapy, we begin with an introductory call to explore what brings you to therapy.

• During this call, we review any health conditions or mobility needs so I can plan appropriately.

• We also discuss location options and practical considerations, such as what to do if you meet someone you know during a session.

• I will send you the exact meeting details ahead of time.

• Outdoor sessions can take place in most weather, as long as you have suitable clothing and footwear.

• If you need to switch to an online, please give at least 1 hour’s notice.

• Outdoor therapy is available in the Reading West area.