Yarra Valley Counselling

Jo is honest, practical, warm, and calm. Jo has been pivotal in shaping the way i respond to stress, anxiety and negative emotions. She uses really effective exercises to give you the resources to handle situations that make you uncomfortable, emotional or stressed. When you feel like you’re drowning in your thoughts she manages to get you back to the present using really effective mindfulness techniques. Her sessions have become part of my regular self care routine. She’s the needle in a haystack of councillors you’ve been searching for! Thank you, Jo.

I have been working with Jo for about a year now and she has been such a great blessing; quite literally a life saver. With her warmth and compassion she has been able to cultivate a space in which I feel totally comfortable to share all my thoughts and circumstances. I even appreciate the times when she has really challenged me. She is incredibly well read and I particularly like that she is able to bring many different teachings together into a coherent, personalised therapy. I couldn't recommend her more highly.

Jo was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her approach was perfect and had a lot of good tips and techniques to help manage various situation. Would highly recommend.

My husband and I have been searching for answers for over 20yrs. Answers to why we have trouble connecting with ourselves, each other and other people. We have been to numerous couples councillors, social workers and psychologists over the years and always left with no answers or understanding as to what the actual problem is. We always left having been given no skills, tools or understanding about what was really going on within ourselves and in our life and what to do about it. We have been Looking endlessly for tools and skills to help manage our daily anxieties and stresses, past and present and wanting to learn a deeper understanding of our minds, bodies and souls. After all these long yrs of searching we have found our answers. Jo has opened up our eyes and changed our life. In the 6 weeks that we have been seeing Jo she has answered many of our questions and has given us true understanding and direction of what we need to do and where we need to go to solve our problems. Jo has told us exactly what has been happening with our mind, body and soul and has given us incredible resources to work with and educate ourselves on. The guidance, direction and information given by Jo has already set our life in the direction of peace and balance. Thank you for everything Jo. You have given us hope and inspiration beyond measure.
We highly recommend Jo! She will change your life!

Where do I start? The last 3 years of my life have been challenging - the "life throws a curve ball" was more like "life throws a wrecking ball"!
I was not capable of making personal decisions, the to and fro craziness was debilitating, and without my family's support I am not sure where I would be.
Then I found Jo - the lady who gave me the tools to be able to rationalise, to reason, to make sense, to find me again.
She cuts through all the "BS" that may have you in a holding pattern and helps to set you on the course that is right for you.
Thank you Jo

What a gift, to find such an eloquent and knowledgeable person to talk to.
Each time I’ve walked away from a chat with Jo, I’ve become a more empowered and content version of me- thanks to the tools she’s provided and the truth she has encouraged me to find within myself.
My partner and I have loved working with Jo to enrich and expand our understanding of ourselves, each other and our communication style in our relationship, we’re thrilled to be giving our kids a more harmonious and wisened set of parents. Forever grateful for your guidance and wisdom Jo!

I had some good sessions and learnt lots over several sessions privately and as part of a couple.
Unfortunately the trust and safe space developed over time was lost for me when for over 40 minutes as part of a couple's session, Jo let her personal opinions override her usual professionalism. She was dominant, obsessive, not measured or balanced and refused to entertain any alternate viewpoint than her own.
None of this was beneficial to the couple's session we were in, where Jo opened by inviting us to share important moments since our last session. I shared some things that had impacted me, and they were not received in the usual professional way expected from Jo in a safe, confidential space.

We can’t thank Jo enough for her gentle guidance throughout life’s ups and downs. She gives amazing practical strategies and creates a safe space where you feel comfortable openly discussing the not so easy topics.

Jo is like the big sister you never had to confide in, everyone needs a “Jo” in their lives.
Thank you for helping us to reconnect to continue to make our relationship flourish.

Jo is just about the most sincere, kindest, calming person I know. Through my sessions with Jo, I have been able to arm myself with much needed tools to rise above personal concerns allowing me to grow, strengthen and shine! Jo has a way of keeping things real by her extreme understanding of how life can be. Thank you Jo, I'm so very grateful to have found you!