Joanna Cottrell, BACP

Joanna Cottrell is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression and problems with self esteem. She also supports clients with motivation, career and relationship difficulties, and with challenges linked to ADHD, addictions and grief. Joanna works in English and brings eight years of professional experience to her practice, holding BACP accreditation. Joanna aims to make sessions straightforward and down to earth. She focuses on listening without judgement and helping people name what feels hard. Sessions are practical and driven by what the client wants to change, whether that is coping with life transitions or improving sleep and eating habits. Her approach blends client-centred work with practical strategies. Cognitive behavioural techniques are used to spot unhelpful thinking and try small experiments that can shift mood and behaviour. Solution-focused ideas help set clear, achievable next steps during short-term blocks of work. Joanna also draws on trauma-informed ways of working for people who have experienced abuse or loss. Motivational interviewing can be used when someone wants to make a difficult change but feels stuck. This mixture allows her to tailor sessions to each persons needs. People choosing Joanna can expect a collaborative, paced process. She helps clients weigh options and build skills for everyday life. To begin, people are invited to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session that suits their timing.

How different approaches can work online

Client-centred therapy focuses on what matters to the person in front of the counsellor, with the practitioner listening closely and reflecting feelings back. Online sessions using this style help people feel heard and decide what to work on next, which suits worries like low mood or self esteem.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and tests small changes to see what works. Adapted for remote work, CBT can help with anxiety, sleep problems and low motivation by setting practical, doable tasks between sessions.

Motivational interviewing is a conversational way to find a persons own reasons for change and to build commitment. It can be useful for addiction, lifestyle change or when someone feels stuck and ambivalent.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Joanna will discuss options and help decide which methods fit the client's goals and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made. The relationship and mutual planning guide which tools are used.

Session formats are not specified in the original biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online counselling can make sessions easier to fit into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed and avoid travel time, helping therapy slot into everyday life more readily.