ABOUT
Joanna Buglass
BSc (hons) . AdvDip . MBACP (Accred).
I have recently relocated with my family to the North East. I have always known that I wanted to work in a caring profession. I am a friendly and approachable person and a good listener with empathy for others. As I was growing up a close family member experienced mental health difficulties, and I also experienced and overcome my own mental health issues. These personal experiences equipped me with understanding and compassion as well as hope and determination to see other people experience healing in their lives.
I work in an integrative way, mainly using a person centred approach with psychodynamic insight; however I also draw on additional tools such as mindfulness, gestalt, transactional analysis (TA), and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) depending on what is best suited to your needs. I am able to offer spiritual understanding rooted in my own Christian beliefs. Faith in-put in your counselling is optional and if this is something you would like, this can be discussed in our first session.
Qualifications
I am a fully qualified counsellor and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I hold an Advanced Diploma in Counselling. I have also completed a BSc (Hons) Psychology degree from the University of Birmingham.
I am committed to continuing learning to make sure that you are receiving the best possible care. As a member of the BACP, each year I complete a minimum of 30 hours Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
This has covered areas such as:
Identity
Community
Adult Attachment Behaviour
Relationships
Diversity
Safeguarding for Vulnerable Adults and Children
Introduction to Transactional Analysis
Positivism, Optimism and Faith
Adapted Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF-CBT)
Multiplicity, Dissociation and DID
Trauma & The Body: Somatisation & Dissociation (PODS)
I adhere to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
Professional Background
My interest and care for others led me to gain experience working with people of various ages and life circumstances. I have volunteered doing children’s, youth and community work. I also worked for some time supporting the elderly as a care assistant in a residential nursing home.
After completing a degree in Psychology I went on to work for 6 years with the charity Mercy UK. A national Christian charity, providing a free, 6 month residential programme for young women aged 18 -28 years old who are struggling with life controlling issues such as self harm, eating disorders or abuse in any of its forms.
I also had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant with young people with additional education needs at Kirklees College over a two year period.
I came to realise that my passion and strengths are in coming alongside people, listening and giving support through the challenges they face. I decided to pursue training in counselling. Following completion of the Advanced Diploma in Counselling I continued to gain experience as a volunteer counsellor with the charity UCHM Huddersfield. From here I have gone on to launch Space to Breathe, a small private counselling practice.