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Caring, compassionate, heart focused therapist - based in Ilkley

Hello, I'm Josie...

On this page I'll share a bit about me so you can get a sense of whether I'm the right person to support you.

I've been a counsellor, life coach and therapist for over 30 years. In that time I've helped many people find their way through painful times of grief, loss and bereavement. I use a heart focused approach which can bring about healing and change in the most gentle and transformative way. 

I also became a funeral celebrant two and a half years ago. In this work I spend time with families when they are very recently bereaved. I listen to them with empathy, as they share with me the life story of their loved one. Then I create a meaningful service that will perfectly reflect their life, and I deliver that on the day of the funeral with care and warmth.

These two roles of blend together to give me the experience, insight and skills to truly help people facing painful and stressful times of loss.

My training and background

I first trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist in 1990 with the Person-Centred Approach Institute International, on a 3 year diploma.

Eight years ago I qualified as a Certified Deep Transformational Coach with the Centre for Transformational Coaching.

I am also a Licensed HeartMath®Coach. If you would like to know more about the what HeartMath® is and how it can help you have a look at their site here.                             

I have done many additional trainings over the years, to equip me to help people in the best way that I can. The main one being an award winning advanced training in grief and bereavement with an excellent organisation called Shapes of Grief. This included both Level 3 - Advanced Certificate in Grief and Loss and Level 4 - Prolonged Grief Disorder and its Treatment. The Shapes of Grief training is a leader in the field - as it draws on all the latest research and understanding about how to truly help those who are bereaved and grieving.
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My celebrant training was with Civil Ceremonies - where I gained the nationally accredited qualification of a Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy.

Some of the other trainings and qualifications that I've taken include...

  • Trauma-Informed Certificate for Coaches with The Centre for Healing

  • Certificate in Psychosynthesis with the Centre for Psychosynthesis Studies

  • ​Person Centred Expressive Therapy with the Person Centred Expressive Arts Institute

  • Arnie Mindel’s Process Work

  • William Bloom’s Core Energy Management

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I have taken numerous other training and self-development courses and will continue to do so, as I am committed to my Continuing Professional Development. 

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​I have regular supervision with a qualified supervisor. I am a member of the ACCPH - the professional body for accredited counsellors, coaches, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists. and I abide by their Code of Ethics and Practice.

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My Story...

​When I was 25, something happened that changed the course of my life. My husband was killed in a car crash. The impact of this was beyond what I can briefly describe here. I'll give you an impression...by saying my life literally fell apart and I fell apart.

Over the time that I picked up the pieces and started to put myself back together, one of the things that helped me the most was talking to supportive people who were trained to help me. It made such an impression that I decided to train to be a counsellor myself. I wanted offer others the help I had received.

So began my years of being alongside those going through the darkest of times and holding a light up for them to move towards. The light of knowing - that with love, care, support and encouragement they would come through those shadows. The light that other people helped me find and now I hold up like a lantern, for you.

This light has also helped me through other personal losses that followed...such as my mother dying of cancer when I was in my early 30's. Her death took me to a different type of dark hopelessness. Again those that had the skills to help were alongside me, walking me through it, until I could stand steadily myself. That is what I offer you too.

“Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope.”
Elizabeth Gilbert 'Eat, Pray, Love'

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