Joanne Reed – Counsellor Therapist

I came to this work through both professional training and lived experience, which has shaped the way I sit alongside people in their grief. I know that loss isn't something to be fixed or rushed, and I never underestimate how much courage it can take to talk about the thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud.

People often describe me as calm, grounded and easy to talk to. I believe the most important part of counselling is creating a space where you don't have to pretend you're coping, explain why you're grieving the way you are or worry about being judged.

Outside of my work, I value the quieter things in life. Time outdoors, a good cup of coffee and moments of reflection help me slow down and stay present. They remind me that healing rarely happens in dramatic leaps, but often through small moments of feeling seen, understood and less alone.

I work with adults whose lives have been changed by bereavement, including suicide loss and sudden or traumatic death. Many of the people I support appear to be coping on the outside whilst privately struggling with guilt, anxiety, loneliness or a sense that life no longer feels like their own. Some are grieving a recent loss, while others have been living with grief for months or years and wonder why it still feels so hard.

My clients are often carrying thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud. They may be questioning who they are now, feeling pressure to stay strong for everyone else, or wondering whether they'll ever feel like themselves again. I offer a calm, thoughtful space where you don't have to pretend you're okay or be ready to move on. Together, we'll make sense of your grief at a pace that feels right for you.

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

My practice specialises in grief and bereavement, including suicide loss, sudden and traumatic death, and grief that continues to affect daily life months or years after a bereavement. I work in a person-centred, trauma-informed way, integrating CBT and solution-focused therapy where they support the individual needs of each client.

Before becoming a counsellor, I worked as a family law solicitor. Supporting people through relationship breakdown, family conflict and significant life change gave me a deep appreciation of the emotional impact that loss, uncertainty and change can have on people's lives. It also developed my ability to remain calm, think clearly and offer steady support during difficult conversations.

Alongside my private practice, I have supported bereaved people through Cruse Bereavement Support and volunteered with the Samaritans, experiences that have strengthened my understanding of grief in its many forms.

Above all, I believe counselling should be a place where you don't have to pretend you're coping or hide the thoughts that feel too difficult to say out loud. My role is to walk alongside you, helping you make sense of your grief with warmth, honesty and respect for your own pace.

My approach is person-centred, collaborative and trauma-informed. I believe there is no right or wrong way to grieve, so our work together is shaped around you rather than a set process or timetable. We move at a pace that feels right, and you'll never be expected to talk about anything before you're ready.

I offer a calm, accepting 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. Together, we'll make sense of your grief and explore what's happening beneath the surface, helping you understand your emotional responses rather than feeling frightened by them.

Where it feels helpful, I integrate elements of CBT and solution-focused therapy to support you with practical strategies alongside emotional exploration. My aim isn't to remove your grief or encourage you to move on, but to help you feel steadier, ease the weight of guilt and anxiety where they're present, and find a way of living alongside your loss that feels right for you.