Joanna Towler

I currently have a limited number of spaces on a Monday or Tuesday.  

I also have a limited number of spaces for supervision.  

My working days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Sessions are all online using the Zoom platform.

Choosing a Therapist can be a daunting experience. There are many approaches to choose from and finding someone with whom you feel comfortable can take time.

I have a Masters Degree in Counselling (Clinical Supervision); a Diploma in Counselling: a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and a Certificate in Training Practice.

I am a Senior Accredited and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (Â鶹ԭ´´), and an EMDR Europe Accredited Supervisor/Consultant.

As a trauma specialist, I use a trauma-informed integrative approach in all my work. I have a person-centred foundation which means I believe everyone is unique and has the potential and ability to change. I see my role as coming alongside in order to help you find your way through the ‘wild waters’ of life, tailoring the way I work to meet your needs using my intuition, experience and creativity.

Over my thirty years experience, I have built on that person-centred foundation to include other approaches (such as CBT and EMDR) that provide a wider perspective on how to understand ourselves, the issues we face and what we can do about them. I find EMDR is a particularly effective approach for treating trauma. There is also a growing body of research that shows it is effective with many other issues too.

I offer a half hour telephone (or Zoom) introductory appointment so we can meet and decide whether we would be a good fit.  We can use this time to talk briefly about what you are looking for and to ask me any questions you may have.

Once we have agreed to continue, we can arrange an Assessment Session.  

I usually like to get an idea of who you are and your story so as to have some context to what brings you to therapy now.  Sometimes it is quite straight forward and you are very clear about what you would like.  For some, it is harder to pin down and can take longer to establish what would be helpful.

Sessions are generally an hour and weekly.  

Please see my website for more information about how I work: www.charistherapy.co.uk

Appointments take place online using the Zoom platform.

I have a limited number of spaces for supervision on Mondays and Wednesdays online only

Supervision provides a container for holding the therapeutic relationship.

As a qualified and experienced supervisor, I am passionate about the role of supervision, and the part that it plays in enabling therapists to do their best for the client and look after themselves. It provides a confidential space where the supervisee can develop their skills, resources, explore the impact of their work and find new ways of seeing whilst ensuring the safety of the client remains paramount i.e. to become a reflexive practitioner.

I enjoy working with both experienced practitioners and those just starting out. Supervision provides a place to examine and reflect on all aspects of working with people (ethical, relational, organisational, pastoral, and personal). It is a place where ethical issues and dilemmas can be discussed, whilst keeping risk to therapist or client in view to maintain ethical standards and good practice.

I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Supervision and am an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant/Supervisor

Supervision is a more collegiate relationship whilst providing accountability, support and education. My preferred model of supervision focuses on session content, counselling interventions, therapeutic relationship, supervisee’s process, supervisory relationship, supervisor’s process, and organisational issues (Hawkins & Shohet and Page & Wosket). Throughout, I am mindful of the supportive, educative, and managerial tasks of supervision identified by Inskipp & Proctor.

Supervision for EMDR practitioners incorporates all the above as well as the EMDR model and protocol specifics.

The first appointment is for us to get to know each other a bit better and to determine what type of supervision you are looking for i.e. general counselling/therapy or EMDR specific.

We  can use the time to discuss what your goals are for supervision and any concerns you may have.  In addition,  it is useful for me to get an idea about the context within which you work and any expectations or requirements arising from this.