Illuminated Minds Clinic Counselling
Hello, I’m Jo, and I’m glad you’ve found your way here.
Contacting a counsellor can feel like a big step, especially if you’ve been coping on your own for a long time. There’s no need to have it all worked out first, or to know exactly what to say. We can begin wherever you are.
Whatever you’re bringing, there’s room for it here.
What I can support you with
People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. Some know exactly what they’d like to work on, while others just know that something doesn’t feel right.
You might be feeling anxious or low, going over the same worries, or finding it hard to rest. Or perhaps life looks fine from the outside, but inside it feels like a lot to carry.
Some of the things I often help with:
- Stress and anxiety, including health anxiety
- Depression and low mood
- Trauma, including complex trauma and experiences of domestic abuse
- OCD
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship difficulties
- Addiction
- Identity exploration and major life changes
And much more. If what you’re going through isn’t listed here, you’re still very welcome to get in touch.
I have experience with neurodivergence, including ADHD, and with people making sense of their identity after finding out they’re neurodivergent as an adult.
How I work
Our sessions are a space for you to talk openly, at your own pace, without being judged or told what to do. My role is to listen closely, stay curious alongside you, and help you make sense of things.
I work in an integrative, relational way. Person-centred counselling is the heart of it, and I bring in elements of CBT and solution-focused work when they’re likely to be useful for you.
Understanding why you feel the way you do can make a real difference. Where it helps, I’ll draw on what neuroscience tells us about how stress and past experiences affect the mind and body, including how your nervous system responds. Many people find that what once felt confusing begins to make sense.
I’m a trauma-informed practitioner, so we’ll always go at a pace that feels safe for you.
The relationship between us matters most, and we’ll let it grow over time.
Interested in hypnotherapy too?
As a qualified hypnotherapist, I also offer Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, either on its own or alongside counselling. If that’s of interest, you can read more about hypnotherapy here, or we can talk about it on your free call.
A little about me
Before I became a therapist, I sat in the other chair.
Earlier in my life, I went through some difficult experiences that shaped how I felt about myself and the world for a long time. Therapy helped me understand myself better, and brought a clarity I hadn’t known was possible.
That experience is a big part of why I do this work. I know how much courage it takes to reach out, and how much it matters to feel truly heard.
You’re the expert on your own life. What I bring is my full attention, my experience, and a calm, steady space where we can make sense of things together, at a pace that feels right for you.
My approach is integrative and relational, with person-centred counselling at its core. I weave in CBT and solution-focused approaches where they may help, always working collaboratively with you. As a qualified hypnotherapist, I can also bring hypnotherapy into our work if it feels right for you.
Away from the therapy room, I’m a mum, and a dog mum too. Some of my happiest times are spent in our campervan, exploring somewhere new with the family and the dog in tow.
Qualifications & memberships
- Foundation Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy (with Distinction), Sheffield Hallam University
- Currently completing a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Level 6), graduating 2027
- Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma, National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCFE accredited)
- Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (DSFH)
- Trauma-informed practitioner
- Registered Member, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)
- Registered Member, National Council for Hypnotherapy (MNCH Reg)
- Registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
- DBS checked
- ICO registered
- Regular clinical supervision
As well as my private practice, I volunteer as a counsellor with a charity working in partnership with NHS Neighbourhood Mental Health Services
Getting started
Before booking anything, we’ll have a free 20-minute phone call. You can tell me a little about what’s brought you here, ask whatever you’d like, and hear how I work. It’s simply a chance to see whether we’re a good fit, with no obligation to go further.
If it sounds like a different kind of support would serve you better, I’ll be honest about that and help point you in the right direction.
Our first session is about getting started together. We’ll talk through what you’d like from counselling and agree how we’ll work, and you don’t need to prepare anything.
Getting in touch takes courage, and I’d be honoured to hear your story.
Sessions & fees
Each session is 50 minutes. You can see me in person at my therapy room, Illuminated Minds Clinic, in Hyde, or have your sessions online or over the phone.
Individual £70
Block of 6 £390
I offer a block of six weekly sessions. Six sessions is a helpful point to pause and review how things are going, so you can get a sense of whether you’d like to book another block or continue with individual sessions.
All sessions require payment at the time of booking.
You’re always in charge of how long we work together. When you feel ready to continue on your own, we can plan an ending together.
Sessions take place at my therapy room in Hyde, a short walk from the town centre, or online or by telephone.