Jo Austin

I am a counsellor in training, currently preparing to enter my final year of an MA in Contemporary Relationship Studies at University Centre Doncaster. I am offering low cost counselling to couples and families.

As a compassionate and down-to-earth counsellor, I am dedicated to helping you feel heard, understood and empowered to explore the challenges you may be facing.  My approach is centred on providing a safe space where you can openly discuss relationship difficulties, barriers to communication or other complex issues that are impacting on your relationships. I aim to help you to develop new perspectives and find constructive ways forward.

I have worked with clients facing a wide range of challenges, including communication issues, trauma and grief, and my experience has deepened my ability to offer effective support for those navigating relationship difficulties.

My approach

I take an integrative approach to counselling where I am able to draw on a combination of therapeutic techniques to tailor my practice to your unique goals and needs.

Key elements of my approach include person centred therapy, where I offer a warm, empathic and non-judgemental space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to help you develop an understanding of how these thoughts and feelings can impact on behaviours and how they are all interconnected, helping you develop more helpful ways of thinking and relating to others. We can focus on these interactions by using Systemic Therapy and uncover deep held beliefs about roles within relationships and families and to help you develop new skills to help you move forward.

Where it all started

Having spent over forty years in client-centred roles, my decision to retrain as a counsellor later in life was deeply influenced by both my professional experiences and personal challenges. I believe that healing and growth are possible, no matter what the difficulties are that we face.

In addition to my current studies, I have worked with charities such as DRASACS, Cruse Bereavement Support and the Blue Cross Pet Bereavement support service, as well as NHS, local authority and hospice agencies.

These experiences have enriched my understanding of human resilience and the complexities of life, allowing me to bring a deeply compassionate and empathic perspective to my practice.