Joanna Michaels

You are not feeling right. Maybe you are going through a difficult loss. Maybe you are back in a familiar painful place, repeating unhelpful patterns. You feel stuck, not knowing where to turn. Maybe your every day is a struggle.

I offer a safe and confidential space, where you can be heard.

My approach is supportive and involved. Together, we will work to explore your concerns, deepest thoughts and behaviours. You need to commit to the process and, yes, it can be demanding. But, in time, you can use it develop new insights and understanding. You can learn more about yourself, your relationships and the difficulties you’re facing.

I hope you will feel freer after working with me, more confident in your skin and more able to choose how you want to interact with the world. 

Most of all, I want you to develop the life you are longing for.

I am a qualified BACP registered psychodynamic counsellor.

I have experience of working with clients who have lived through very difficult experiences. I have also worked with those who come to therapy to work on their relationships and personal development.

My work involves running a private practice in Highgate N6 and Muswell Hill N10, and working as a counsellor at Highgate Counselling Centre. I also manage and develop training for a national crisis line.

My style is warm, relational, and non-judgemental.

Every one of us is unique and holds the potential for change, healing and growth. However, sometimes we need the help of a trained professional to access these inner strengths and resources.

My experience includes abuse, anxiety, bereavement, depression, loss, motherhood and parenthood, people pleasing, PTSD, relationship difficulties, self-harm, suicidal ideation.

It may feel a daunting task trying to find a therapist that you feel will be the right one for you.

Free 15-minute phone call: When you first contact me, I offer a free conversation over the phone, for up to 15 minutes. This allows us to introduce ourselves. It helps you decide whether you would like us to meet and find out more about the way I work. It can also help me to understand what difficulties you may be facing.

Initial consultation: If you decide to see me for a session, we book an initial consultation. This session will be different from future ones - it provides opportunity for you and I to get to know each other and get an idea of how to proceed. The session will help us to explore a bit more about your history and how therapy may help you. It will also help you to decide if you want to have therapy with me.

At the end of the session, I will say if I can help you with therapy. You can then consider if you would like to start therapy with me, with no obligation.