07774441412
Joanna Creighton Counselling & Psychotherapy
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change- Carl Rogers
Are you exhausted with feeling torn or stuck, invisible or lost, are your thoughts and feelings going unnoticed by others? Are you feeling a strong emotional reaction to something and find yourself avoiding things or minimising your pain. Perhaps your own inner critic is holding you back from embracing your full potential. Maybe dislike or disgust are familiar feelings. Do you feel stress, anxiety, depression or trauma is preventing you from living your life in the way you would like? If past experiences are impacting your present, affecting your ability to live a fulfilling life, know you’re not alone.
Sometimes our journey through life can feel like we are wading through mud, an added resistance that has arrived from seemingly nowhere. You may find yourself fighting against it, criticising yourself for it or you may stay paralysed within it.
Our ability to cope as human beings can be at times influenced by our history, current circumstances, values we have learned and the resources we have available to us. I wonder what treasures could be hidden in your mud that may provide insight and wisdom for your present day?
Who am I?
MBACP Accred Counsellor and Couples Psychotherapist
Hello, my name is Jo and I am an Integrative Counsellor and Couples Psychotherapist with over 8 Years’ experience supporting people with a range of difficulties from loss and complex bereavement, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, separation, divorce and life changes.
I have a passion for human beings, young through to the elderly and greatly enjoy having the opportunity to help support a person to make a real difference in their life.
As an experienced Counsellor and Accredited Member of the BACP, I work with different approaches and modalities, tailoring a therapy to suit you.
I see you as a unique individual and believe you are the expert of your story. You have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming these difficulties, challenges and patterns in your life's script.
My main aim is to create a safe space for you to explore your emotions and witness a self discovery in a non judgemental and transparent environment. I endeavour to move as close to your frame of reference as possible, allowing you to slowly build a self-acceptance and internal trusting.
Making the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and if you would like to find out more in how I can help you explore your story, please feel free to get in touch.
Qualification & Training
Couples Therapy for Depression IAPT Practitioner Training Theoretical and Clinical Components, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology
BACP Accreditation, BACP
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in Counselling Studies
Diploma in Practical Spirituality and Wellness
APT Providing Good Clinical Supervision, The Association for Psychological Therapies
Polyvagal Theories, skills and application
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Trauma and Memory: what every clinician should know
Integrating Artwork into Therapy
Compassion Focussed Therapy
Prof. Rudi Dallos Exploring Attachment Narratives in Families
Safeguarding Children, Young people & Adults
I offer a variety of tailor made Therapy to help you move forward with the obstacles in your life. I will help you identify your personal values, strengths, and abilities in support of your personal and/or professional development.
What to expect from Counselling and Psychotherapy?
Therapy provides a safe and confidential space for you to talk to a trained professional about your difficulties and concerns. It can help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can develop a better understanding of yourself and of others.
I will not give you my opinion or advice or prescribe medication but I will help you find your own solutions – whether that’s making effective changes in your life or finding ways of coping with your difficulties.
Psychotherapy recognises the lasting impact of trauma. This is when stressful events that you experience or witness make you feel unsafe, helpless or vulnerable. You may start to think about what has happened to you, not what is wrong with you.
Therapy can be a powerful, life-changing experience which can help you to improve your mental health, overcome social or emotional challenges, and fulfil your potential.
Therapy can take different forms depending on your needs and what type may be suitable. Sessions will ideally be planned which last for up to 50 minutes. How often you have Therapy will depend on your individual circumstances, and will be agreed between us in your first session.
I am available for remote sessions, online or over the telephone and this will be discussed at the point of first contact.
During a session, we may take you through specific interventions designed to help with your problem, or we might have a more general discussion about how you're feeling. What you talk about will depend on what you want help with, the session is your space and will be guided by you. You may wish to focus on areas that could include:
improving relationships in your life, including with yourself
understand your childhood
your feelings, emotions or thoughts
your behaviour
past and present life events
situations you find difficult and gain deeper insight into these issues you face
talk about sensitivities in a confidential environment that you might not feel be able to discuss with anyone else
change the way you think and behave to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing
make sense of any clinical diagnoses you have had by understanding what has happened to you
come to terms with traumatic events
learn to communicate better and tolerate differences in yourself and others
I will listen to you without judgment and help you explore your thoughts and emotions. I may at times offer information but I won’t tell you what you should think or do.
What to expect from Couples Therapy?
We can all experience difficulties in our relationships from time to time, we may feel stuck with conflicts, misunderstandings and can’t find a way out of this ourselves. You are not alone, this may be a time where it could be helpful to seek some extra support.
Couples therapy is for people within a committed relationship to learn ways to cope, as a team, with depression and the emotional difficulties which can occur in relationships. Couples Therapy is a form of behaviourally-based treatment which focuses on the elements of a couples relationship. It aims to scenically improve the verbal quality of your relationship and each partners sense of satisfaction within it.
Couples therapy can give you a safe and protected space where you can work to explore your situation, and find new ways of thinking about and resolving the problems you and your partner are experiencing.
Couple Therapy for Depression (CTfD) is an integrative, NICE approved, evidence-based treatment of up to 20 sessions designed to treat depression, using the relationship as a key resource for recovery. It is one of the high intensity therapies offered in NHS Talking Therapies Services.
In the first few sessions I will seek to gain an understanding of the relationship, distress, dissatisfaction and depression from the perspective of both partners. The focus of the treatment is on relieving stress, improving communication, managing feelings and changing behaviour, solving problems and promoting acceptance and understanding perceptions.
Counselling:
£60 per session or £300 for six sessions
Couples Therapy:
£75 per session
Supervision:
£65 for 1.5hrs per month as per the BACP requirements
Concessions:
Offered for students, trainee Counsellors, low income.
I wholly believe that therapy should be available for all- so I am happy to discuss concessions further
DBS checked
(The NHS is the largest provider of free Psychological support in the UK. There is a waiting list and sessions may be limited, you can access this direct through your local Talking Therapies service or your GP)
I currently have space for remote working, Nationwide either online or via telephone, I can be available for face to face for short or long term Therapy.
Regular reviews will take place to ensure the sessions continue to meet your needs and the focus of our work is clear.
Please feel free to get in contact and we can arrange a FREE 15-minute phone call where you can ask me questions, which will give you the opportunity to decide if you would like us to work together.
“there is no birth of consciousness without pain” Carl Gustav Jung
Supervision & Reflective space
One to one or group Supervision and Reflective space for individuals or employees
In addition to my client work, I am also a qualified supervisor within the NHS Talking Therapies services/IAPT and therefore provide clinical supervision to both qualified and trainee counsellors.
I have a strong belief Supervision is a collaborative process and it is imperative to offer a secure, helpful space in which you feel a trusting relationship can be developed in order to explore your experiences with your client practice.
I would hope to encourage autonomy in your thinking, offer gentle guidance and support in areas you wish to explore.
I can offer regular 1:1 or group Supervision to support practitioners or trainee counsellors in meeting their accreditation standards.
My aim is to create a relationship that feels supportive, non-judgemental and nurturing so supervisees can feel safe to explore their challenges as well as celebrating their accomplishments. I would encourage a climate of growth, mentoring supervisees to develop their skills, knowledge, experience, self-reflection and confidence in their work.
I believe the purpose of supervision is to:
Maintain professional and ethical boundaries
To support personal and professional development that enhances practice
To reflect in depth about all aspects of practice in order to work ethically, safely and effectively as possible
To offer a safe space allowing supervisees to share that ‘felt experience’ and discuss any concerns
To discuss accomplishments and celebrate successes whilst learning from conflicts and any blocks to empathy
To grow skills, knowledge and confidence
I base my theoretical practice with a person-centred approach on an integration of Shohet and Hawkins seven-eyed process model which is a systemic approach considering multiple lenses and Inskipp and Proctors functional model.
If you would like to find out more about how we could work together to help support your clients please feel free to get in contact to arrange a FREE 15-minute telephone call.