Joshua Carter

Hi, I'm Joshua, a professional counsellor and registered British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (Â鶹ԭ´´) member.

I know how daunting it can be to look for a counsellor or finding who will match your needs and expectations. So I will talk you through how I work and what I can offer you, hopefully removing any confusion and making your search a little easier.

If you have any questions, I will be more than happy to help you.

My approach is relational and integrative, meaning that the relationship we develop is crucial to your growth and change in therapy. The integrative part is the modalities I use, which combine CBT, Psychodynamic, compassion and Trauma-focused. I work differently with children and young people. I use creative tools and mediums, such as play therapy-based interventions with a less formal approach. This working style allows me to tailor counselling to suit your needs, recognising that we are all unique individuals.

By providing a safe and confidential space free from judgement to explore your difficulties, we can work together to meet your aims and goals in counselling, some of which might be managing anxiety, dealing with depression, relationship issues, work, stress or working through and processing trauma.

In the first session, we will explore your aims and goals in counselling and decide together how I can best support you with this. 

I will provide an in-depth assessment with a gentle approach. This provides me with a clear insight into the issues you're experiencing and what support you need. 

We will look at forming a therapy contract and explore any questions or expectations you may have. 

With over six years of experience working as a counsellor in various settings, including the NHS, schools, and a successful private practice, I have developed a deep understanding of diverse client needs. My expertise lies primarily in trauma therapy, where I have guided clients through the process of navigating and recovering from deeply impactful experiences. Additionally, I have extensive experience addressing a wide range of mental health concerns, from common issues like anxiety and depression to more complex conditions.

As a neurodiverse practitioner, I am committed to fostering an inclusive environment that respects and responds to each client’s and supervisee's individual perspectives and requirements. I practice relational integrative psychotherapy that places a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as the central environment where entrenched relational patterns can be observed, understood, and transformed. I believe that our sense of self, security in the world, and comfort within our own skin are profoundly shaped by key relationships during our childhood years.

Therefore, the therapeutic relationship is a space where new relational experiences can challenge and reshape these ingrained patterns and perspectives. My goal is to facilitate a process that allows these old ways of being to be gently examined and evolved into healthier, more adaptive patterns.

My core training includes a BSc in Therapeutic Counselling, where I focused on a relational and integrative approach to therapy. I am currently pursuing an MSc in Psychology, with my dissertation exploring the long-term psychological effects of emotional abuse on adult sons by narcissistic mothers.

Just as in therapy, I believe that the foundation of effective supervision lies in a secure, attuned, and trustworthy relationship. My aim is to create an environment where you feel safe to explore your practice openly, without fear of judgment, and where you can receive constructive feedback and new insights.

Supervision can sometimes be challenging when it comes to being fully transparent. It’s natural to worry about being judged or misunderstood, especially when discussing those difficult moments where boundaries were tested or when you felt uncertain or overwhelmed. These experiences, however, are integral to your growth as a therapist.

In our supervisory relationship, I strive to provide a space where you feel understood and supported, even when discussing your most challenging therapeutic moments. My approach is to meet you with empathy and to help you navigate these experiences with understanding and compassion.

I encourage you to think critically about your client work, which will help you develop your skills and confidence. I will consider your overall career development and work to help you grow in your professional journey.

Each therapist’s journey is unique, and I am open to collaboratively finding the best ways of working together that meet your individual needs. The broad aims of our supervision sessions will be to:

- Support you in your clinical practice

- Reflect on both your clients' processes and your own therapeutic relationships

- Enhance your competence, skills, knowledge, and confidence

- Foster your ongoing professional development

- Ensure ethical practice in your work, safeguarding both your well-being and that of your clients, the public, and the profession as a whole

The supervision I offer utilises the Seven-Eyed Model (Hawkins and Shohet, 2012).