JOANNA BELL COUNSELLING
Face to face counselling in Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames and online across the UK
How can counselling help?
Perhaps you've always been the one who copes, the person others rely on, who keeps things moving, carries the mental load and puts everyone else's needs first. But something has changed and the ways you've managed in the past don't seem to work any more.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted or low and wondering why you don't feel like yourself. Maybe you find it difficult to put yourself first, find that you're being particularly hard on yourself, or you feel stuck and unsure about what you want.
Counselling offers you a safe, non-judgmental space where you can stop holding everything together and focus on yourself. We can explore what's happening beneath the surface, understand the patterns and ways of coping that might no longer work and begin to reconnect with who you are, what you need and what matters to you.
Areas I can help with:
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Anxiety and low mood: when everything starts to feel harder than it used to and you feel stuck... (read more)
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Stress, overwhelm and burnout: when you've been holding everything together for too long (read more)
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Low self-esteem and self-criticism: when you never quite feel good enough and keep giving yourself a hard time (read more)
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People pleasing and perfectionism: when you put yourself last on the list and do everything right but things still feel off (read more)
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Life changes and identity: when the changes in your life have made you lose sight of yourself (read more)
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Bereavement and loss
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Menopause and women's health
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ADHD- and autism-informed counselling
"I am not what happened to me, I
am what I choose to become."
Carl Jung
About me
​Coming to counselling and choosing a therapist can feel daunting. So here are a few things you might like to know about me.
First of all, I am a qualified integrative counsellor. This means that I am trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches and I draw on these in sessions depending on your needs. For me the therapeutic relationship we build is central to our work together, as feeling genuinely heard and understood can open the way for change.
My background is in media and photography and taking photos of people has helped me learn how to build trust and put them at ease quickly.​ I started counsellor training when facing the prospect of an empty nest and volunteered for the charities Mind and Cruse Bereavement. I have been supporting adults (18+) within a busy NHS GP counselling practice for a number of years alongside seeing clients in private practice. I have just finished further learning with a Level 5 qualification in Psychotherapeutic Counselling that focused on anti-oppressive practice and I have also done training in Autism, ADHD and RSD awareness.​
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I have experienced firsthand the power of counselling and of having consistent, caring support in the most challenging of circumstances.
How I work
You are the expert on your life, so rather than giving advice I offer a space where we can explore things together. I will remain alongside you in a supportive and collaborative way, helping you to tell your story, make sense of what's going on, recognise patterns and move towards meaningful, positive change.
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I work in a mainly Person-Centred way which means that our work together is shaped around you and your needs. I use a range of therapeutic approaches including Internal Family Systems, Compassion Focused Therapy and Gestalt therapy and I draw on these when they feel helpful and appropriate.
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Face-to-face counselling sessions in Surbiton and Kingston upon Thames are in comfortable, private rooms and online therapy sessions across the UK take place via Teams.
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SESSIONS
What I offer
Face-to-face sessions
These take place in a calm, welcoming space in Surbiton or Kingston upon Thames. Our first session, like subsequent sessions, will last 50 minutes. I will ask some questions to understand more about you, to learn what has brought you to counselling, and to check that what I offer feels safe and appropriate for your needs. It's a chance for you to ask questions and to see if working with me feels right for you. If you decide to book further sessions we will find a time that works for both of us and would usually meet at the same time each week.
Online sessions
Online sessions last 50 minutes and are held via Teams. As with face-to-face therapy, the first session will give us both the chance to ask questions and to ensure that what I offer is suitable for your needs. If you decide to book further sessions we will find a time that works for us both which would usually be at the same time each week. I will send you a link to join the meeting. Online sessions also take place in my counselling space to ensure confidentiality and it is important that you have somewhere you can speak freely and confidentially during our sessions.
How much does it cost?
I offer 50-minute face-to-face sessions in person in both Surbiton and
Kingston upon Thames that cost £60.
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I also offer online sessions nationwide via Teams with the aim of offering more flexibility. These also cost £60 for a 50-minute session.
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I am able to offer a limited number of slots at a concessionary rate.
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