Joanna Ash

I currently have the following availability:

Weekly Tuesday Session @ 10am (Online)

                                               @ 1pm (In Person)

                                               @ 2pm (In Person)                                         

People often wonder if their issues are sufficient enough to seek therapy for. I always say that if something is bothering you then it is important enough to attend to. People seek therapy for very different reasons. Some may want a greater sense of personal power and to feel more connected to themselves, whilst others may begin to start the recovery process of a past or ongoing trauma.

Within the therapy sessions I like to pay attention to and be curious about the relationship that develops between myself and you the client. It is through the process of building a meaningful therapeutic relationship that I believe personal insight to your issues and a deeper engagement with yourself can be reached. As we are social beings; hardwired for connection, when we go through turmoil and periods of distress being able to explore this within a supportive and nurturing relationship can be really helpful.

I strive to provide a warm, respectful and empathic space, with humour too where clients feel they can bring all parts of themselves to be heard and understood. I am always interested in your unique subjective experience of who you are and what you choose to bring to the sessions.

I can offer both in person sessions and online sessions via zoom if more convinient or preferred. Sessions tend to be on a weekly basis and I am able to offer fortnightly sessions too when agreed that this could work well. Sessions are held for 50 minutes.

I originally trained as an integrative arts psychotherapist so there is opportunity for those who would like to use art and creativity within the sessions. This may include sandtray work, painting, drawing, using postcards and bodywork or using metaphor or images real or imagined. My work as a therapist is informed by many different approaches/theories which enables a more tailored fit for each client according to what they are bringing and wanting to work on. I draw from many psychotherapeutic theories such as humanistic, existential, attachment and psychodynamic.

In more recent years I have been exploring and getting to know my own neurodivergence which has taken much of my work in this direction but not exclusively. I am passionate about social justice issues and hold in mind how this may show up in the therapeutic space and affect the lives of clients outside in the world. I strive to be a safe place for all identities, races and cultures.

I prefer working long term with clients as I like to give time for the therapy process to unfold but I am able to offer short term therapy sessions too, all with regular reviews. I work with adults from 18 years old.

I currently hire a room above St Andrews hall Church in Chesterton, which is not far from the centre of town.

There is wheelchair access to the rooms.

Within the first session I like to hear what has brought you into therapy and what you would like to work on within the sessions. Sometimes the answer to this reveals itself as the sessions progress, it is not always the case that clients know exactly what they would like to address at the beginning.

It is important that we both feel we will be a good fit together and discuss therapy expectations. If I feel your presenting issues are outside of my experience I would let you know and do my best to refer you to a suitable colleague or organisation.