Welcome to Affinity Counselling with Jo
Helping you to find a happier tomorrow
How can I help?
Are you or a loved one struggling with anxiety?
Are you worried about your child's mental health?
Is it stopping you from living the life you want?
Does your brain never turn off?
Are you feeling like you are a failure, or just not good enough?
Do you constantly feel unhappy or "down"?
Do you struggle finding motivation?
Are you losing sleep?
Do you feel that you are missing out on life?
Do you compare yourself to others?
Are your relationships causing you stress?
Do you want more from life?
Do you feel like you're "boring" your friends with your troubles?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then please get in touch.
You are not alone, I am here to help.
By offering you a confidential and safe space to talk through your issues, I can help you begin to understand how past events, the people in your life, and your life experiences may be responsible for your current beliefs, behaviours and actions. By helping you to see things in a new way it allows you the choice of change, allowing you to leave behind the expectations and handed down ways of your past. With help and support you can make the changes you may have always wished for, or have yet to discover.
I believe that by helping you to understand yourself, it provides you the tools to make the most of your future and finding your happiness.
Its time to live the life you choose for yourself - one that you feel in control of and allows you to be the best possible version of you.
People come to me for help with a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling children, teenagers, adults and couples:
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger management
Worry
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work, or in retirement
Problems with family or school life
Counselling and clinical supervision in a safe, comfortable and private setting
Welcome, and thank you for visiting Affinity Counselling with Jo.
I'm Jo, and if you're considering sharing your thoughts and emotions with me, it feels only right to share a little of myself with you.
Whilst I'm a fully trained professional Integrative Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor; I'm also just a pretty "normal" kind of person, please don't let the job title intimidate you. I too struggle with my own issues some days; some days just feel a bit too much don't they? I mostly get through those days with as much of a smile as I can muster, and a few expletives #counsellorwhoswears, and I'm happy to help you find your coping skills to get you through the darker days.
I love to laugh, and have a silly but dark sense of humour, and always try to find a positive in every situation, but, it hasn't always been this way. I have had difficult times in my life when it felt that I would never laugh again, or be able to see the positives, feel gratitude, or believe in brighter days. But, that's what gives me the passion I have to help you through your difficult times.
You are far more resilient than you believe, its you that's got you through life every single day this far, but, sometimes we need to be reminded of that and give ourselves a pat on the back.
I've gained experience in many issues during my time as a counsellor, through specialist domestic abuse agency work, private practice and five years working for the NHS IAPT contract in the local areas of Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheerness. Its given me extensive experience with issues such as addiction, loss & bereavement, OCD/OCT, overthinking, relationships, disability, chronic fatigue, long term health conditions, all areas of domestic abuse, and most commonly anxiety and depression. I work with all ages and offer both short and long term counselling to individuals and couples. Using an Integrative approach it allows me the skills and flexibility of other theories such as Psychodynamic, Person Centred, Existential, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies to enable me to work very personally with each individual client and their presenting issues. At the core of Integrative Counselling is the relationship between counsellor and client, and it is with this in mind that I strive to build a strong, trusting and empathic relationship with all of my clients.
I am also trained in Life Coaching and can use this alongside counselling to help clients manage their lives to maximise their potential and reach their own goals.
Qualifications
Level 6 Counselling Children & Young People
Level 5 Counselling Children & Young People
Level 6 Diploma in Clinical Supervision
Certificate in Couples Counselling
Accredited Infant Loss Counsellor
BACP Certificate of Proficiency
Transactional Analysis 101
Level 4 Diploma in Theory and Practice of Counselling
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Theory
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Certificate in Counselling Concepts
Certificate in Restorative Justice - Victim/Offender Mediation Certificate in Basic Community Mediation Skills
Training
Some of the training I have completed.
Christiane Sanderson Workshop on Working with Childhood Sexual Abuse
Working with Eating Issues
Trauma
Living and working with Dissociation
Coaching Skills Training
Working with Domestic Abuse
Bereavement and Loss
Stalking
Understanding Self-Harm
Freedom Programme
Transactional Analysis (TA)
Working with and Preventing Self-Harm
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults (SOVA)
Resilient Therapy
Life Coaching
Child Protection - Risk and Safeguarding
Bereavement - Supporting Others
Working With Children and Young People
Child Development
Attachment and Relationships
Domestic Violence Awareness
Mental Health Training
Alcohol and Substance Misuse
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you, and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call, WhatsApp or text me on 07745 614966 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
I aim to respond to messages in 24 hours but at extremely busy times when I have a full caseload, this may be a little longer.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
My location
My private practice is a purpose built therapy room based in Teynham, near Sittingbourne. I also cover areas such as Faversham, Swale, Sheerness, Maidstone, Canterbury and Whitstable.
Sessions are also available Nationwide by telephone and online platforms such as Zoom.
Availability
I offer sessions to children, teenagers, adults and couples.
Sessions can be face-to-face, telephone or online through platforms such as Zoom.
Session fees range from £50 - £80
Clinical Supervision is also available face-to-face and online.
Supervision fees are up to £75 for 90 minutes.
I offer a limited number of concessionary sessions for students, OAP's and those on a low income, please get in contact for details
Some frequently asked questions
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a longer-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.
Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with our sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations whereby if you may be a risk to yourself or others, in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality in order to keep you or others safe.
Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.
Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected to those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.
How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depends on the depth of the issues they are facing and their thoughts and feelings around them. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.
I believe in client autonomy, so giving clients the control and choice of their sessions is important to me.
My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. If my caseload at that time is full there may be a short wait for the times preferred by a client. I prefer not to run a waiting list as I appreciate the timing of a client reaching out for support is relevant, so I will always endeavour to see a client as soon as possible. I am though only human and have a limited number of sessions each week, but try my best to accommodate everyone who reaches out to me.
"Never underestimate how much counselling can help. If you've ever thought about doing it, then my advise is "do it!", I cant begin to write how much it helped me."
"Seeing Jo has changed my life. I have become a different person. I am much more confident and calmer and I don’t take things so personally anymore. Jo has helped me to deal with issues in my past and understand why I am the way I am. She helped me to realise that I can’t change what has happened and to let go. Most importantly Jo has made me realise that I am worthy of being loved but that I am also capable of being on my own"
"I never thought I'd be able to trust anyone enough to talk about my issues but I have been able to. It seems so silly that all I needed to do was to talk about the things I've never told anyone. Talking about things has really helped me and I would tell anyone to share the things your hiding or too afraid to talk about. Jo really seemed to care and understand how I felt"”
“I have been seeing Jo for sometime now and she has helped me work through some problems from my past. I didn't realise how much those things where affecting my life still. It feels as if a huge weight is being lifted. Thanks Jo!"
"I am now beginning to live the life I never thought i could have. Talking through the past has really made me understand myself."
"I've put off counselling for years, I wish now I'd done it sooner."
"Please learn from me! Prioritise yourself and go and see Jo!"
"I am now a better parent, partner and friend. I'm learning to do things differently from how I was raised and the examples I had growing up."
© Jo Walmsley
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