Joanna Northover
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS21-01826
Location: Leatherhead
As a psychotherapist and counsellor, I am passionate about supporting others. My training began in 1996 and I have continued to research and work with people since then. I began my career working in corporate settings supporting executives in high-stress positions, and later trained to work with young adults.
I provide support and guidance to individuals who are trying to find their voice in the world. There are times when patterns of behaviour, societal expectations, and pressures may make it difficult for us to recognize who we are and what the life we want to live might look like. Being able to recognise our uniqueness, have our voices heard, and our needs met can be challenging, and living a fulfilled life requires the ability to express oneself and feel validated and confident.
Sometimes, from when we are very young, expectations of how we present ourselves to the world, how we moderate our behaviour and how we express our own needs can impact significantly into adulthood. Not being heard and hiding our true self can cause patterns of behaviour that diminish our lived experiences.
Being a parent of neurodivergent children led me to research extensively in this area, and has given me a deep insight into the struggles and challenges they and their families can face throughout their whole school life. I understand how incredibly painful and frustrating this can be. I have experience working privately and within a special needs school, supporting learners with emotional and behavioural difficulties. I have worked with young adults in managing the difficulties they encounter within the education system.
In my view, the key to success in therapy is the relationship between the client and therapist. I believe trust needs to be built in a safe, empathic, non-judgmental environment. The wide range of my training and experience has allowed me to apply multiple approaches and modalities, but I believe that any training or experience is only effective within a strong relationship. I believe that everyone can be fulfilled and motivated in their lives. My goal is to always ensure that my client's best interests are my first priority.
I am able to provide a therapeutic experience that can be both enlightening and productive, in a respectful and collaborative environment.