Our Team

Joanna McLaren is a CBT counsellor who works online with individual adults with a wide range of issues and problems including: anxiety; depression/low mood; stress; anger/aggression; bereavement/grief; chronic illness; dreaming; eating and body image issues; exam stress; gender and sexual identity; life transitions; obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); psychosis; self-harm; and many more issues.
 

Joanna's way of working

Joanna works in a flexible, person-centred way with each client. She aims to build a strong therapeutic relationship with each client to provide a supportive environment in which a client can explore their issues and ways to move forward. Joanna uses traditional cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) and incorporates elements of Solution Focused Therapy, relaxation, Mindfulness, Compassion Focused Therapy, working with imagery, and some elements of Schema Therapy in order to best meet the individual needs and preferences of each person.
 

Joanna's background and training

Joanna has several years' experience supporting adults and young people in a range of settings. She has run a small CBT practice since 2020 alongside working as a higher education/further education lecturer in health and social care – a field she has worked in for over 25 years. Prior to this, Joanna worked as a nurse.

Joanna has a SCOTACS Diploma in Counselling and Group Work - A Cognitive Approach from the  Centre of Therapy and Counselling Studies. In addition, Joanna has a Post Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education with Teaching Qualification and a BSc (hons) in Environmental Science, both from the University of Stirling, as well as Diplomas in Paediatric Nursing and General Nursing. 

Joanna is a registered member of the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and a full member of the General Teaching Council. 
 

Joanna's fee

Joanna charges £70 a session for self-funding clients. She also works with clients referred via their employer/organisation – for further details, please visit First Psychology Assistance.