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I qualified as a counsellor in 2010, and since then have worked in mainly in the field of addiction and sexual violence .  I specialise in trauma and PTSD and  currently work as a counsellor for a Sexual violence agency in Portmouth, but also have a thriving private practice, Joanna Mead Counselling and Psychotherapy. 

I recently gained an MA in counselling and psychotherapy at Bath Spa University, although already held a Professional Diploma in Counselling from UWE  and PGCE in CBT and trauma studies from Reading University.

I like to use a integrated type of Relational approach, which incorporates    both person centred and psychodynamic elements. In other words, you will be able to direct the therapy where you want it to go, and I will offer you a safe non judgmental space in which to do that, whilst at the same time looking at how your past and unconscious processes might be influencing you. The counselling relationship is very important in the approach I use, as it reflects some of what is going on outside in the clients  life, and what has gone on  in the past. I use the relationship to examine these processes and to help you make sense of them, so that you can learn about yourself, and make changes that feel right for you. 

I recently moved to Portsmouth ], Hants and am available for face to face, online or phone sessions during evenings and Saturdays currently.

I will offer an inital assessment of up to an hour and a half to take a detailed history. This also gives us both an opportunity to find out if we are well suited. I will then offer you weekly sessions, face to face or online. I prefer face to face but can work with either. I have also worked over the phone but this is my least preferred way of working. 

I will need to take your details such as your address and date of birth at our first session. 

After your assessment if we decide to go ahead, I will work with you either on a short term or long term basis depending on your needs.

Short term is 6-24 sessions whilst long term is over 24.

I will offer you a regular weekly slot which you will be responsible for paying for, even if you can't make the session. I will also want you to give me at least 2 weeks notice, but preferably a months notice if you would like to end our work together.

if you come to work with me you will probably experience me as a warm and empathic person , my aim it to make you feel safe and understood. I will set healthy boundaries to our work together to ensure you feel safe, this means I will stick to the time boundary and not be able to have extra sessions in between our set time together. 

I am currently offering the work at £55 for a 50 minute face to face  session .

The first session is an opportunity for us to find out if we can work together. There is no obligation to continue. I am more than happy to offer a free half an hour phone call or zoom meeting for you to meet me before you begin to find out how we both feel about working together.

If you decide to continue,  subsequent sessions are 50 minutes long and are weekly.