Hello, my name is Jo Walmsley and I am a fully qualified Integrative Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor. I provide a warm, down-to-earth, and safe space for both adults and children aged 4 and over to explore their difficulties. I understand that reaching out for help can feel daunting, so I strive to put you at ease and make your therapeutic experience as positive and effective as possible.

Being an integrative therapist is at the heart of my work. This means that once our therapeutic relationship is established, I draw upon a range of different tools and evidence-based techniques tailored specifically to your individual needs and personality. I don't believe that one single approach fits every person in every situation, so we will work together to find what best suits your needs and goals.

In our sessions, we will focus on getting unhelpful thoughts in order. It is very easy to get 'stuck' inside our own heads, and sometimes our brains can be incredibly unkind to us. By investigating your needs with a neutral perspective, we can begin to think more rationally and develop the healthier patterns required for you to achieve the life you want.

We may also look at how early life experiences have influenced your current thought processes. By understanding why you are the person you are today, you gain the power to choose which parts of your behaviour you would like to keep, and which you would like to change. This insight, combined with practical CBT skills, provides the foundation for you to move forward.

I have gained extensive counselling experience across many different fields over the last sixteen years. This includes six years working within the NHS IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service, where I provided short-term counselling and CBT at Step 2, Step 3, and Step 3a High Intensity levels.

Beyond my work with the NHS and in private practice, I have developed a specialist passion for helping neurodivergent clients better understand themsleves, and help survivors of domestic abuse reclaim their lives and take back control of their futures. I also have significant experience working with younger clients, currently serving as the sole counsellor providing treatment to children in the Swale area for Mind.

I am qualified to work therapeutically with children, and when working with children or young people, I adapt my approach based on the age of the child, often using a play method to build a strong therapeutic bond. My background covers a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, school refusal, OCD, phobias, intrusive thoughts, anger management, sleep issues and relationship difficulties.