Expressive Connection
with Heather Joy
Expressive Connection
with Heather Joy
About Heather Joy
Having achieved a 1st class honours degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy at Edge Hill University, and completed in excess of 2500 client hours with both adults and children & young people, my therapeutic practice is firmly rooted in Person-Centred Experiential principles. By striving to cultivate an empathic and non-judgemental relational space, I feel honoured to accompany clients as they explore unfamiliar, unknown or uncomfortable aspects of self and experience.
Working face to face, online or outdoors, I regularly incorporate aspects of Natalie Rogers’ person-centred expressive art therapy to aid and facilitate emotional connection and exploration (Therapy & Supervision)
Having worked at Parenting 2000 since 2016, and more recently in private practice (therapy & supervision), I have experience of working with clients aged 6-80 years old. As many of the referrals are made by GP's, schools, CAMH's, Social Services I have experience of working with a wide range of presenting issues, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicide
- Disordered Eating
- Bereavement/Loss
- Miscarriage
- Postpartum Depression/Psychosis
- Abortion
- Identity (sexuality/ gender/religion/)
- Relationships (couples/family/friends/work/school)
- Rape and Sexual Abuse
- Self Harm
- School / Social Anxiety
- Neurodivergence (Autism, Aspergers, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, OCD, ADHD, PDA).
Alongside therapeutic practice, I also teach Critical Autism Studies in the department of Social Sciences at Edge Hill University and am completing a PhD exploring Young People's Lived Experiences of having a Neurodivergent Sibling.
Finally, I am a published poet & artist: with current and upcoming publications featured in The Poetrygram Annual 2019; Arouras & Blossom; Feral; Other Worldly Women's Press; Nymphs; Peach Street and Strukturriss
About Individual Therapy
By valuing and honouring individuals as autonomous and agential beings, capable of growth and self-actualisation, I aim to facilitate a safe and accepting relational space in which clients can explore their emotional experiencing and sense of self.
Individual sessions are available face to face, online and outdoors.
About Face to Face Sessions
Working with clients aged 5yrs+ and located in Southport town center, Heather Joy has several therapy rooms to choose from , including an art therapy room.
* Please note: Due to Covid-19, face to face sessions are currently unavailable.
About Online Therapy
Online sessions are currently available for both children & Young People, as well as adults, via Zoom or telephone.
Please note, a greater number of after school and evening & weekend sessions are available via zoom/phone.
(other platforms such as Skype are available on request)
About Outdoor / Walk & Talk Therapy
Walk & Talk sessions are available for both Children & Young People as well as adults, at a number of locations around the North West, including:
- Ainsdale Beach
- Formby Pinewods
- Hesketh Park
- Botanic Gardens
- Marine Lake
- Ruff Woods (Ormskirk)
About Experiential Workshops
Experiential workshops, facilitated by Heather Joy, are available at request. See Photo Gallery below for images of previous experiential workshops including:
- The Five Ways to Wellbeing
- Who am I as a potato?
- Conkering my Emotions
- Neurodiversity in the therapy room