Joanna Ellis

Hello, I’m Jo.

I believe that everyone deserves a safe, compassionate space where they can feel heard, understood, and accepted without judgment.

​My path to becoming a counselor was shaped by walking through life's unexpected storms. Experiencing the heavy, isolating layers of postnatal depression, the devastating loss of both my parents, and later navigating the painful breakdown of my marriage showed me firsthand just how vital professional support is when you are at your most vulnerable.

​These profound life experiences didn't just teach me resilience; they reinforced the deep importance of empathy, genuine human connection, and the immense value of simply being present for someone when their world feels heavy. It was this deep calling to care for others that led me to transition into psychotherapy after a beautiful 30-year career as a florist. Just as I spent decades nurturing growth in nature, I am now dedicated to nurturing healing and growth in people.

​Today, I offer a warm, non-judgmental space where you can explore whatever is on your mind, entirely at your own pace. My hope is that you'll leave each session feeling truly heard, deeply understood, and empowered to move toward the life you want to live.

​Outside of my practice, my greatest achievements are my two wonderful young adults. I also share my home with my Sprocker Spaniel, Ollie, who reminds me every day of the quiet joy of being outdoors and the simple value of living in the moment

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I use an integrative approach to therapy, combining Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Therapy to support each client in a way that feels right for them.

Person-Centred Therapy offers a warm, non-judgemental and compassionate space where you can feel truly heard and accepted. This approach can help build self-esteem, self-awareness and confidence, allowing you to explore your thoughts and emotions openly and safely.

CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It can help identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge negative beliefs and develop healthier coping strategies. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, depression, stress, low mood, panic, overthinking and self-critical thinking.

Psychodynamic Therapy explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns may be influencing your current emotions, relationships and behaviours. By understanding these deeper patterns, therapy can help you gain insight into yourself, process unresolved emotions and create lasting emotional change.

By combining these approaches, I can tailor therapy to your individual needs — whether you are looking for practical coping tools, emotional support, deeper self-understanding, or all three. My aim is to help you feel supported, empowered and better able to navigate life’s challenges.

Your first therapy session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin building a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship. I understand that starting therapy can feel nerve-wracking, so I aim to create a warm, relaxed and non-judgemental environment where you can feel comfortable being yourself.

At the beginning of the session, we will go through and sign the counselling contract together. This explains important information such as confidentiality, session boundaries, cancellations, data protection and how we will work together therapeutically. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and helps ensure you feel informed and comfortable before we begin.

During the first session, we will talk about what has brought you to therapy, any difficulties you may be experiencing, and what you hope to gain from counselling. There is no pressure to share everything straight away — we will go at a pace that feels right for you.

I may ask some gentle questions about your background, relationships, mental health, coping strategies and any significant life experiences to help me gain a better understanding of you as a whole person. We will also discuss any concerns you may have and what you would like from therapy moving forward.

My approach is integrative, using Person-Centred Therapy, CBT and Psychodynamic Therapy, which means sessions are tailored to your individual needs. Some clients want space to talk and feel heard, while others may benefit from practical coping tools or exploring deeper emotional patterns.

The first session is not about judgement or having all the answers — it is simply the beginning of a supportive process where you can feel listened to, understood and supported.