About
Hello, my name is Josephine - I am a British counsellor, trained at an Australian University. I have a bachelor’s degree in (BSc) Social Psychology from Loughborough University (England) and a Masters of Counselling from Monash Univeristy (Australia), and I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
I have grown up living all over the world (including London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo), so I can empathise and understand the emotions that come with living in a foreign country and being a third culture kid.
I am currently based in Tokyo, but I can offer services around the world (as long as the time difference works for both of us!).
I believe in an integrative approach to counselling, I find it suits most clients and I aim to take the most relevant aspects from a range of approaches (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy) to create an effective and useful treatment plan for each client. I also care for my clients with patience, acceptance and kindness, as our relationship is one of the key factors that determines the effectiveness and outcome of our counselling together.
I have over 6 years experience working in private practices and school counselling. I specialise in individual counselling, working with adults and teens experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress, adjustment issues and other mental health related concerns. I also recently worked as a school counsellor at an international school in Tokyo, and I have a lot of experience working with teenagers with a range of mental health concerns.
I am currently offering my services online (via Google Meet).
I only provide counselling services in English.
Why Talking Helps
Counselling
Counselling is a collaborative experience between a client and counsellor. Time is set aside to explore difficulties which may include the stressful or emotional feelings of the client.
Sharing thoughts and concerns in a safe, confidential environment, and with an impartial counsellor, allows an individual time to explore feelings and limiting beliefs.
During your appointment, you'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained counsellor, who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising.
The counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems. But they won't usually give advice or tell you what to do.
Talking
Sometimes it’s easier talking to a stranger than to a family member or friend. During counselling, a trained counsellor will listen to you without judgement. It’s an opportunity to gain a new perspective and talk through your feelings, experiences and thoughts in a safe and respectful environment. Talking does not always make the problem go away, but it can help you cope with it and feel happier.
A counsellor is not there to sit you down and tell you what to do. Instead, they will encourage you to talk about what's bothering you in order to uncover any root causes and identify your specific ways of thinking.
The counsellor may then look to create a plan of action to either help you reconcile your issues, or help you to find ways of coping.
Mental Health
Mental health can affect daily living, relationships, and physical health.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity.
Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally and socially healthy.