Hello, I’m Jo Cook, qualified Psychotherapist, Counsellor, yoga teacher, and mindfulness leader. I am based in Cumbria, England and offer telephone, Zoom and face-to-face therapy sessions. On this page I am happy to be able to tell you something about me, my qualifications and experience.
For more specific information about my approach to therapy click or tap here.
I am a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor. I have BSc(Hons) in Psychology, from Birmingham University and a PostGraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Leeds Beckett University. Both were in-person taught courses of several years length, led by professors and published authors, all experts in their fields. I stress this not to show off, but because not all training courses are equal and sadly there isn’t yet any legal control over who can call themselves a counsellor or psychotherapist in the UK.
I am also a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). They are a leading professional body that ensures the quality and ethics of therapists in the UK. All members must have high-level qualifications, keep their training up to date, and keep to various professional standards. When you choose a therapist for yourself make sure you are confident in their professional registration and training. My training and experience are well beyond the minimum requirements for membership of the BACP and I continue to exceed their membership requirements.
I have professional experience in management consultancy, local government, the senior Civil Service (Department of Health), advertising and PR, I have experience running my own business, and I spent over 5 years as a stay-at-home parent which was no less challenging than any paid work I’ve ever done!
I have practiced mindfulness and yoga for more than 25 years and I have been a qualified teacher of Iyengar yoga for more than 12 years. I find yoga to have profound physical benefits and to help me keep my mind and body connected in a ways that cut through the noise and clutter of modern life. I similarly find mindfulness to have a powerful ability to keep me, and clients, grounded and safe in the real world, especially in the midst of anxious or stressful times.
I have therapeutic experience spanning over 10 years working with issues of domestic abuse, violence and coercive control, traumatic childhood events, relationship difficulties, bereavement, trauma recovery, PTSD, addiction, self-harm, self-disgust. I am also experienced in working with the stresses caused by significant life changes such as: illness, grief, employment changes, parenting and fertility issues, an important relationship breaking down, financial hardship, or the failure of a big opportunity to come through.
Click here if you’d like to hear from my clients about what it’s like to work with me
Sometimes the challenges we face feel less easy to name or categorise. I often work with clients who begin without a clear idea of why they feel stuck, unhappy, empty, or lost in life. Or maybe they even struggle to put into words what feels wrong, but they know that something isn’t right. We can begin from any starting point, every journey is different.
I meet with people not problems or labels. I don’t know you yet, but I do know this: you are a unique individual, not something easily summarised by a label or diagnosis. I am interested to be with you and understand your experience and view of the world so we can create a safe space where you can increase your self-awareness and find new ways forwards, whatever you may face.
If you’d like to have a conversation about how we might work together and begin to build a connection please get in touch, I look forward to meeting you.
If you’d like to know more about what a first session will be like, click or tap here
Jo Cook Therapy 