Profile

joannereed.counselling.online

Phone

0759 472 0245

Email

enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Website

www.freetobemecounselling.co.uk

About me and my practice

When someone dies, life can stop making sense. From the outside, you may look as though you're coping, yet inside you're carrying thoughts and feelings that nobody else sees. You might wonder why you're still struggling months or years later, feel guilty when you laugh, frightened by how much your anxiety has grown, or exhausted by pretending you're okay.

These are often the thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud.

I'm a Grief & Loss Counsellor specialising in bereavement, including suicide loss. I offer online and telephone counselling for adults across the UK, supporting people whose grief continues to affect their lives, whether the loss was recent or many years ago.

Grief changes far more than your emotions. It can affect your confidence, your relationships, your sense of identity and the way you experience the world. After a sudden, traumatic or suicide bereavement, you may also be living with unanswered questions, intrusive memories or a constant sense that life no longer feels safe.

My approach is person-centred, trauma-informed and collaborative. I won't tell you how you should grieve or expect you to move on. Instead, we'll make sense of your grief together, at a pace that feels right for you. Therapy offers a space where you don't have to filter what you say, hold everything together or hide the thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud.

Many people come to counselling believing something is wrong with them because grief has lasted longer than they expected or changed them in ways they don't understand. Often, the greatest relief comes from realising they're not broken. They're grieving. Together, we'll help you understand your experience, ease the weight of guilt and anxiety where they're present, and find steadier ways to live alongside your loss without losing the connection you still hold with the person who died.

Experience

I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), committed to maintaining high professional standards through ongoing training and professional development.

Alongside my private practice, I have supported bereaved people through my work with Cruse Bereavement Support, providing one-to-one counselling online and by telephone. I have also volunteered with the Samaritans, offering emotional support to people experiencing distress through both their helpline and email service. These roles have strengthened my ability to sit alongside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives with compassion, honesty and without judgement.

Before becoming a counsellor, I worked in law, higher education, social care and the finance sector. Those experiences gave me an appreciation of the many different lives people lead and the hidden pressures they often carry, something that continues to inform the way I work today.

Clients often tell me they feel at ease quickly and appreciate having a space where they don't have to filter what they say or pretend they're coping. My aim is to offer a calm, thoughtful and accepting environment where you feel heard, understood and able to bring the thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud.

Qualifications

Professional Qualifications

* Postgraduate Certificate in Contemporary Relationship Studies
* Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
* Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
* Level 2 Introduction to Counselling

Specialist Training

* Online & Telephone Counselling (80 hours CPD)
* Cruse Bereavement Foundation Training (Adults)
* Level 2 Certificate in Self-harm Awareness & Suicide Prevention
* Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems

I work exclusively with adults (18+) and specialise in one-to-one grief and bereavement counselling. I do not offer counselling for children and young people or couples therapy.

Additional Information

I offer a free 15-minute introductory telephone call, giving you the opportunity to ask questions, talk through what has brought you to counselling and see whether working together feels like the right fit, with no pressure or obligation.

Professional Membership

Accredited Member MBACP

Professional Register

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Verified by Counsellingo on Friday, 31 October 2025

Initial Consultation

What happens in the first session?

Starting counselling can feel like a big step, especially when you're already carrying so much. Many people worry they won't know what to say or will become upset. There is no right or wrong way to use your first session, and you don't need to have everything worked out beforehand.

Our first session is a chance for us to get to know one another. I'll ask about what has brought you to counselling, explain how I work and answer any questions you have. We can move at a pace that feels right for you, and you'll never be pushed to talk about anything before you're ready.

I offer online video and telephone counselling, so you can choose whichever feels most comfortable. Some sessions are simply a space to talk, while others may include practical strategies where appropriate. We'll regularly review our work together to ensure counselling continues to meet your needs.

Fees

£60 per session.

When I Work

Evening appointments available. I can also offer early morning appointments.

I can accommodate fortnightly appointments provided you are able to be flexible with days/times.

Therapeutic Approach

Humanistic, Integrative

Video Platforms

Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp

Pronouns

She/Her

Area

West Yorkshire

 Show Joanne's Details 

Profile

joannereed.counselling.online

Phone

0759 472 0245

Email

enquiries@freetobemecounselling.co.uk

Website

www.freetobemecounselling.co.uk