Jo Briggs is a therapist in North London

What attracted you to become a therapist?

I spent most of my career working as a professional communicator and I have always loved talking to and learning about people. I was very often told that I am very easy to talk to, so moving to 1-2-1 therapy seemed a natural step.

Where did you train? 

I did my Level 2 at Harrow College, my Level 3 at West Herts and then moved to a small and specialist counselling training college called Langley Therapy, in Buckinghamshire, for the final two years of my Diploma.

I also completed two placements as part of my training, which gave me hundreds of hours of experience at working with and helping real clients.

Can you tell us about the type of therapy you practise?

My practice is integrative, which means I have expertise in and access to many different types of counselling theories and techniques. I am person-centred so I try to offer my clients exactly what they need at any given time. Sometimes this might require looking backwards, to better understand why they are feeling as they are, and sometimes we work together on looking forward and putting into place thought processes and techniques which will help my client to live a happier and more fulfilled life. 

How does integrative therapy help with symptoms of anxiety or stress?

Integrative therapy is excellent at helping clients overcome anxiety or stress. Typically we begin with a psychodynamic approach to trace the source of the anxiety and identify all the various triggers that can make it sometimes feel unbearable.

We then sit with the feelings to understand exactly how the symptoms are presenting themselves as everyone experiences anxiety or stress in their own individual ways.

Finally we introduce behavioural techniques which often banish the symptoms entirely, or at least make them feel much more manageable.

What sort of people do you usually see?

My clients come in all shapes and sizes! The one thing they all have in common is that they are struggling, as nobody comes to counselling because they are feeling great about themselves or their lives.

I occasionally work with couples or mothers and daughters but the majority of my work is with individuals, allowing them to talk openly and without fear of judgment about whatever is bothering them.  

Have you noticed any recent mental health trends or wider changes in attitude?

The massive growth in social anxiety, especially among younger people, is a very worrying trend. Fortunately the greater awareness of mental health means that in many (although sadly not all) sectors of anxiety there is no longer any stigma preventing sufferers from getting the help and support that they need. 

What do you like about being a therapist?

There is nothing more rewarding than helping someone to feel lighter and brighter about themselves and their life’s challenges.

What is less pleasant?

Clients understandably tend to stop therapy once they are feeling better. It is against the ethical framework of our profession to contact clients once therapy has finished which means that we therapists mostly never know how our clients’ stories end.

How long have you been with Welldoing and what you think of us?

I have only recently joined Welldoing and am looking forward to being part of the team.

What books have been important to you in terms of your professional and personal development? Do you ever recommend books to clients?

My go to textbook is Eric Berne’s Games People Play as I find transactional analysis can really help clients overcome conflict in their relationships with themselves and other people. I often recommend this to clients as well as a couple of other books, most recently You Don’t Have to Believe That by Manesh Parebi, which has some great techniques for disempowering negative thinking, and Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, which offers fascinating insights into the effects of smartphones on young people. 

Another, rather controversial book I have recommended more than once is The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle, which is slated by feminists but which, in my opinion, can contribute to relationship harmony.  

What you do for your own mental health? 

My own mental health has improved beyond measure since I became a therapist as it has made me very self aware of my weak spots. I always try to practise what I preach, using the same tools and techniques that I teach my clients. I also talk regularly with my supervisor about anything that it bothering me in my practice and still call on my own therapist very occasionally, if I am having difficulty processing anything by myself. 

I also make sure I keep myself physically fit, attending at least three exercise classes a week as well as regularly walking my dog

You are a therapist in North London. What can you share with us about seeing clients in this area?

My local area is very culturally diverse and there are some clear commonalities and patterns within each of the more prominent cultures. There are also many young professionals working within the Greater London area who are struggling with the challenges of everyday life.

What’s your consultation room like?

It’s lovely. Very calm and comfortable, decorated in grey and teal (my favourite colour) with a big window and a skylight that let in loads of natural light. At nighttime we simply draw the blinds and light the lamps and it becomes very warm and cosy. 

What do you wish people knew about therapy?

That it can be really enjoyable as well as healing and helpful.

What did you learn about yourself in therapy?

I am very solution-focused, which means I find it personally uncomfortable if I am unable to solve a problem or help a client, even if it’s beyond my control. I also learned that being vulnerable can be a very good thing.