Josephine Shaw

I work Mondays - Fridays. I currently have availability on some weekday evenings for face-to-face sessions in central Tunbridge Wells. I also offer online sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus possibly other times. 

Life can be hard. From the outside it might look like all is well, but on the inside? You're struggling. The world says 'Keep going, just get on with it' but sometimes it can feel really difficult to do that. I'm here to help. Whatever's weighing you down, let's sit together, and quietly, thoughtfully, get on top of it together?

There can be all kinds of things that drain our inner batteries, blocking us from finding a way to happiness and meaning in life. Sometimes they're buried in long ago and they've left an imprint deep inside that's causing trouble, like an unhealed wound. Sometimes they are very much in the here and now - a relationship or a family issue, a health concern, a work challenge, a grief or a loss. And these things can arrive in our lives via feelings that might not seem to make any sense. Anxiety (about 'small' things?), depression (that you can't find the cause for?), dread (a strange fear of the future?) or even panic (when everything just overflows?).

Or perhaps you don't know where you're going in life - who you are and how you fit into the world. You just feel kind of...adrift? Or maybe you do know...but you just don't know how to be that person, to live it, express it? It could be about anything from your values and ethics in life, to your sexuality or gender identity. Perhaps you're feeling trapped, or cut off - from friends, family, the world, or even yourself.

I too have faced some very tough periods in life. Things that I couldn't imagine getting through at the time. But I did, and therapy helped. My job as a therapist is now to help you get you through whatever you are dealing with and to be alongside you so that you can move forward towards a better, happier future. 

Every client of mine is unique and really matters to me, each with their individual story. They all get my full focus and care. It's one reason why I don't take on as many clients as I might - I want all my clients to feel that they are getting all of me and all of my attention in our sessions. Because I work as an integrative therapist (which means that I have training in several different models of therapy), I can offer my clients a personalised approach that speaks to their particular situation and needs. I have the training, but you come first, not theories. 

My approach is grounded in what feels real and authentic to you - helping you to find these things within yourself and your life. It can be so easy to lose touch with them. We live in a world that can try to make us into something we're not. Jobs, families, relationships, even society, can try to bend us out of shape so that we can forget who we really are, neglect our needs or lose sight of what we want from life. That can cause distress inside and it can emerge in all sorts of ways including anxiety (including panic attacks), depression and despair. 

And yet our truth inside is where our strength is. It's where our hope and resilience resides. It's not always easy to find, and it can be painful sometimes, but when you meet it you realise just how strong it - and you - can be. 

I believe that everyone has this inside them. My hope is that I can help you find the way there...and then on, to meaning and happiness in life.

******

Qualifications:

MA Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regent's University, London (in progress - completion June 2024).
Post Graduate Diploma Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regent's University, London 2023.
Foundation Certificate Counselling & Psychotherapy, CCPE, London 2020.
MA Digital Culture & Society, King's College, London (thesis on online mental health) 2019 (Distinction).

Other experience: 

13 month befriending role with suicidal people at The Maytree Respite Centre, London, 2019-20. 

The first step is an initial chat of around 20-30 minutes in which you can tell me what's been going on, why you are looking for therapy etc and I can share more about how I work etc and answer questions you might have. There's no charge for this.

If we decide to go forward, our first session together is likely to be a bit of a blend. Part of it will be me asking you to sketch out some of the key background - your important people, family structure, life events perhaps (some of the things that have brought you to this point in your life). But we'll also start talking about what brought you into therapy - the challenges you are dealing with. 

I'm led, mostly, by what my clients want to bring to therapy each week. Sometimes they also ask me to try and keep hold of the 'golden threads' - some of the patterns and themes that arise over the weeks, to help them return to recurring aspects. I'll do that too (though as we work, part of the process may be to help you hold onto them as well). 

You'll find me compassionate and engaged. I'll offer you a supportive and containing space to bring whatever you need to bring, however difficult, hazy, challenging or confusing it might be. I'll listen deeply, but I'm not the kind of therapist who simply sits there and says nothing. I'll sometimes bring my thoughts, feelings, or instincts into the room, perhaps gently offering you new ways of seeing things or perspectives based on different therapeutic ideas. I'll be guided by what feels right for you and we'll move forward together...perhaps with me helping to light the way sometimes. 

I work Mondays - Fridays. I currently have availability on Friday afternoons and early evenings at a comfortable, private consulting room 5 minutes walk from London Bridge station. I also offer online sessions during the afternoon and evenings of Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus potentially other times.

Life can be hard. From the outside it might look like all is well, but on the inside? You're struggling. The world says 'Keep going, just get on with it' but sometimes it can feel really difficult to do that.
I'm here to help. Whatever's weighing you down, let's sit together, and quietly, thoughtfully, get on top of it together?

There can be all kinds of things that drain our inner batteries, blocking us from finding a way to happiness and meaning in life. Sometimes they're buried in long ago and they've left an imprint deep inside that's causing trouble, like an unhealed wound. Sometimes they are very much in the here and now - a relationship or a family issue, a health concern, a work challenge, a grief or a loss. And these things can arrive in our lives via feelings that might not seem to make any sense. Anxiety (about 'small' things?), depression (that you can't find the cause for?), dread (a strange fear of the future?) or even panic (when everything just overflows?).

Or perhaps you don't know where you're going in life - who you are and how you fit into the world. You just feel kind of...adrift? Or maybe you do know...but you just don't know how to be that person, to live it, express it? It could be about anything from your values and ethics in life, to your sexuality or gender identity. Perhaps you're feeling trapped, or cut off - from friends, family, the world, or even yourself.

I too have faced some very tough periods in life. Things that I couldn't imagine getting through at the time. But I did, and therapy helped. My job as a therapist is now to help you get you through whatever you are dealing with and to be alongside you so that you can move forward towards a better, happier future. 

Every client of mine is unique and really matters to me, each with their individual story. They all get my full focus and care. It's one reason why I don't take on as many clients as I might - I want all my clients to feel that they are getting all of me and my attention in our work. Because I'm an integrative therapist (which means that I have training in several different models of therapy), I can offer my clients a personalised approach that speaks to their particular situation and needs. I have the training, but you come first, not theories.

My approach is grounded in what feels real and authentic to you - helping you to find these things within yourself and within your life. It can be so easy to lose touch with them. We live in a world that often tries to make us into something we're not. Jobs, families, relationships, even society, can try to bend us out of shape so that we can forget who we really are, neglect our needs or lose sight of what we want from life. That can cause distress inside and it can emerge in all sorts of ways including anxiety (including panic attacks), depression and despair.

And yet our truth inside is where our strength is. It's where our hope and resilience resides. It's where the recovery starts. It's not always easy to find, and it can be painful sometimes, but when you meet it you realise just how strong it - and you - can be.

I believe that everyone has this inside them. I want to help you find the way there...and then on, to meaning and happiness in life.

******

Qualifications:

MA Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regent's University, London (in progress - completion June 2024).

Post Graduate Diploma Psychotherapy & Counselling, Regent's University, London.

Foundation Certificate Counselling & Psychotherapy, CCPE, London.

MA Digital Culture & Society, King's College, London (thesis on online mental health) (Distinction).

Other experience:

13 month befriending role with suicidal people at The Maytree Respite Centre, London.

The first step is an initial chat of around 20-30 minutes in which you can tell me what's been going on and why you are looking for therapy etc. I can also share more about how I work etc and answer questions you might have. There's no charge for this.

If we decide to go forward, our first session together is likely to be a bit of a blend. Part of it will be me asking you to sketch out some of the key background - your important people, family structure, life events perhaps (some of the things that have brought you to this point in your life). But we'll also start talking about what brought you into therapy - the challenges you are dealing with.

I'm led, mostly, by what my clients want to bring to therapy each week. Sometimes they also ask me to try and keep hold of the 'golden threads' - some of the patterns and themes that arise over the weeks, to help them return to recurring aspects. I'll do that too (though as we work, part of the process may be to help you hold onto them as well).

You'll find me compassionate and engaged. I'll offer you a supportive and containing space to bring whatever you need to talk about, however difficult, hazy, challenging or confusing it might be. I'll listen deeply, but I'm not the kind of therapist who simply sits there and says nothing. I'll sometimes bring my thoughts, feelings, or instincts into the room, perhaps gently offering you alternative ways of seeing things or perspectives based on different therapeutic ideas. I'll be guided by what feels right for you and we'll move forward together...perhaps with me helping to light the way sometimes. 

******

A note on prices:

Online sessions are £65 per session.
In person sessions in London are £75 per session.