Integrative Counselling - Online & In-Person

Hello, I'm Joëlle

I’m a registered member of the BACP, and I hold a Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling from Iron Mill College. My approach is rooted in person-centred values, so what you get is a warm, collaborative, non-judgemental space where you can actually feel seen, heard, and supported, not just processed. Alongside counselling, I’m also an artist, a jeweller, a painter, and a photographer, and creativity genuinely shapes how I understand growth, expression, and healing; it’s not separate from the work, it feeds it.

My lifelong fascination with psychology, human behaviour, and the sheer complexity of human experience is what led me to train as a counsellor in the first place. I’ve lived and worked all over the world in marine conservation before becoming a counsellor; this gives me a broader perspective and a genuine curiosity that I bring to every session. As someone who is queer, neurodivergent, and from a mix of cultural backgrounds myself, I understand exactly why belonging, identity, and acceptance matter so much. I’ve built my practice to be LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodivergent-friendly, and trauma-informed, because you deserve a space where you can explore your experience safely and be completely yourself.

My lifelong fascination with psychology, human behaviour, and the complexity of human experience led me to train as a counsellor. Having lived and worked around the world in marine conservation before entering the therapy profession, I bring a broad perspective and deep curiosity to my work. As someone who is queer, neurodiverse, and from diverse cultural backgrounds, I understand the importance of belonging, identity, and acceptance. I strive to create an LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodiversity-friendly, and trauma-informed space where clients can explore their experiences safely and authentically.

I offer counselling for adults (18+), both in person in Swansea and online via video or phone. Sessions are £60, and I do hold a limited number of reduced-fee spaces. There’s also a free 20-minute introductory consultation available, no obligation, no pressure, just a chance to see if we’re the right fit.

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What Is Integrative Counselling?

Integrative counselling is a wonderfully flexible, personalised approach to therapy that recognises there is no single method that works for everyone. Rather than sticking rigidly to one model, I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches and theories and tailor the work to your unique needs, experiences, and goals. At its heart, this is collaborative; it’s about building a trusting relationship where you feel supported, understood, and genuinely empowered to create real change.

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Areas Of Interest & Specialisms

 

This list is not exhaustive, as my experience and expertise extend across a wide range of additional areas.

Integrative Counselling Info

About Me

20 Minute Consultation

Client Review

Joelle is a great Counsellor; she brings not only a lot of empathy but also a range of interpersonal skills that helped me open up and be myself during her sessions.
Every session felt like I was visiting an old friend who helped me unpack my issues and have a clearer plan on how to manage my anxiety.

I highly recommend Joelle’s services and I look forward to attending my next session.

Muhammad

FAQs

What is integrative counselling?

Integrative counselling draws from a range of evidence-based therapeutic models rather than relying on just one, because every person is unique, so therapy should be too.

My practice is rooted in person-centred therapy, but it also pulls in elements of CBT, attachment theory, existential therapy, psychodynamic thinking, psychoeducation, and creative approaches (where appropriate for the individual). I'm not trying to fit you into one specific way of working; I'm tailoring this to your needs, your personality, your goals. Together we'll find what actually feels right for you.

Your first session is really just a chance for us to get to know each other and work out if we're a good fit. We'll go through the counselling agreement together, talk about confidentiality and its limits, answer any questions you've got, and I'll explain what integrative counselling actually looks like in practice.

We'll also start exploring what's brought you to therapy and what you're hoping to get out of it. There is absolutely no pressure to tell me everything straight away; therapy moves at your pace, and we'll build a safe, supportive relationship where you share when you're actually ready, not before.

LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy actively recognises, validates, and celebrates diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship styles.

In this space, you shouldn't have to educate your therapist about who you are, or worry about being judged for it. Instead, therapy becomes a safe environment where you can explore whatever's brought you here, whether that's anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, grief, self-esteem, identity, or just wanting to understand yourself a bit better.

I don't see anything about your identity that needs "fixing." So much of what LGBTQIA+ people struggle with comes from discrimination, stigma, minority stress, or feeling misunderstood, not from being LGBTQIA+ itself.

As someone who's queer myself, I understand a lot of this firsthand, and I aim to offer a relationship where you feel genuinely seen, respected, and accepted exactly as you are.

Honestly, there isn't a magic number.

Some people find 6–12 sessions are enough; others choose to work together over months or even years.

We'll check in on how things are going roughly every four sessions, just to make sure therapy's still meeting your needs and actually feels worthwhile.

You're free to end counselling whenever you choose, though if we can, I'd encourage a planned ending session so we can reflect on the work we've done and close things properly.

Yes! I offer online video sessions via Google Meet and telephone counselling right across the UK.

Sessions run for 50 minutes and are charged the same as in-person appointments (£60 per session).

Absolutely.

Working with neurodivergent adults is one of my specialist interests, and I know therapy isn't "one-size-fits-all"; it never should be.

Together we can adapt sessions to actually suit you; that might mean booking quieter times of day, having ambient music in the background, using phone sessions if video feels like too much, leaning on more structured CBT-style techniques, using creative approaches, taking movement breaks, or using fidget tools during sessions.

You're welcome to tell me about any adjustments that would help, whether that's before we start or at any point along the way.

"Counselling" and "psychotherapy" get used a lot interchangeably, and there's a huge amount of overlap between the two.

Generally, counselling tends to focus on specific difficulties, life events, or current challenges, while psychotherapy often digs into deeper or longer-standing emotional patterns, past experiences, and unconscious processes.

In reality, most therapists, myself included, use both depending on what each client actually needs.

No. My role isn't to tell you what to do; it's to help you explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences so you can make the decisions that feel right for you.

I might offer psychoeducation, reflections, or a gentle therapeutic challenge where it's useful, but I won't tell you how to live your life. You are the expert on your own experience, not me.

Yes.

Everything you share with me stays confidential.

There are a small number of legal and ethical exceptions where I'd need to break that, if there's a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or someone else, concerns about a child or vulnerable adult's safety, or if I'm legally required to disclose something.

We'll go through confidentiality properly in our first session, so you know exactly where you stand.

Most clients come weekly, especially at the start, since that helps build momentum and a strong therapeutic relationship.

As things progress, some people move to fortnightly sessions or even monthly sessions. We'll figure out together what actually works best for you.

Any Questions?

Feel free to get in touch using the link below.

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