Joanna Ellis

Are you feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety or struggling with low mood, or finding it difficult to navigate challenging relationships? Are you finding everyday life exhausting and draining? Perhaps you're feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward. Life can really feel like a rollercoaster at times!

Hi! My name is Jo (she/her) qualified counsellor and a member of BACP and an accredited registrant of NCPs who offers safe, confidential and non-judgmental online therapy. 

Taking the first step towards counselling is a courageous act. Whether you're dealing with unexpected life changes, traumatic past experiences, or persistent low mood or self-esteem issues, a counsellor can offer a compassionate, non-judgemental space to work through it.

I believe that no one size fits all so we can explore different approaches to see what is right for you. I can help you heal, change and grow.

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.