Jo Read, BACP

Jo Read is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who supports carers and people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and mood difficulties. She also helps with relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, addiction-related issues, eating and body-image worries, and LGBT and gender dysphoria matters. Jo uses straightforward talking and listening to help people find their own answers.

Jo trained in therapeutic counselling and holds the BACP credential, with a background in social work and more than 20 years working with young people and adults in youth work, education, mental health and social care. She completed placement hours with an agency and maintains monthly supervision and personal counselling to inform her practice.

Her style is person-centred. Jo focuses on empathy, honesty and respect to build a clear, boundaried relationship. She uses open questions, reflection and summarising to help people clarify what matters to them and set their own goals.

Initial meetings are used to agree whether to work together and to create a counselling contract and assessment. That first session is also a chance to ask questions about the process and practicalities. Agreements are reviewed as work progresses.

Jo aims to reduce psychological suffering and to work holistically with talking therapy and other tools agreed during sessions. She encourages clients to lead the agenda so the work stays relevant to their life and needs.

How Jo’s approaches translate to online counselling

Jo uses client-centred work that focuses on warm, accepting listening and clear communication. This approach helps people who feel overwhelmed, anxious or unsure of their next steps by prioritising the person’s experience and pace.

She also draws on emotionally-focused ideas that look at how feelings shape relationships and personal wellbeing. This can help when intimacy issues, relationship patterns or strong emotional reactions are central concerns.

Finding the right approach tends to be collaborative. Jo will talk with each person about their goals, preferences and practical needs, and then suggest ways of working that fit. That discussion is part of the early sessions and can change as the work develops.

If you are considering online therapy, please confirm the specific session formats before booking because they are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also allow people to choose quieter surroundings, avoid being on camera, or use options that suit their energy and concentration levels.