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Welcome! Thank you for
taking the time to research my website. I hope that some of the questions you might have will be answered in this format,
and if you find that you have further questions, or would simply like personal contact please e-mail me at jo@jogilbert.com. Your input is welcome and encouraged. * Please
understand that this is not a forum for establishing a contract. I do not conduct "online therapy" due to severe
confidentiality and privacy concerns. If you are in crisis or need immediate assistance, those issues are not ones that can
be addressed via e-mail. Please utilize your local mental health crisis line, your local A&E or your GP. |
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Who
am I? My name is Jo Gilbert. I am a Master’s-level psychotherapist. Originally from Gower, in Wales,
in 1988 I moved to the United States where I lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for 11 years, after which I spent
some time working in both California and Oregon. Following extensive deliberation, May 2010 saw my return to Great Britain
where I spent a year with the NHS as Clinical Teams Leader for a work-based training provider serving marginalized and at-risk
adolescents. |
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Where do I work? As a diverse practitioner, I engage in multiple projects including individual and group work, psychoeducational
trainings and on-line collaborative ventures with other professionals. I am available to consult. I have written and delivered
various curriculæ and am available for short term contracts. Please let me know if you have a particular interest or
need as I am always interested in possibilities for networking and innovative programming. |
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What
do I do? You will notice that I avoid the use of the term “disorders”. Although clinically and professionally
I am a qualified diagnostician, I tend to avoid the pathologizing medical model constructs. My philosophy is that people develop
a very wide range of coping behaviors and although these may initially be functional, this may change and such behaviors may
then become the cause of additional issues. However, in seeking to manage discomfort in such creative ways I do not, as a
practitioner, view these as “disorders”. I see them as frequently transferable skills that we can identify, modify
and build on to develop new coping mechanisms that may be less uncomfortable. I help people that want to make changes in
their lives. I work with anxiety, stress, depression, bullying, employment (and unemployment) related problems. I am trained
and experienced in working with trauma survivors (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is a particular interest of mine). These
include Emergency Services personnel, victims of assaults, childhood abuse, alcohol and drug related difficulties, victims
of crime and domestic violence. Eating disorders, smoking cessation, healthy living and lifestyle changes are also within
my professional expertise. I have specific training in family therapy, as well as having extensive professional practice
supporting individuals with various chronic physical and mental health conditions. Having been employed internationally
for over 25 years in direct service provision, I have diverse experience, education, training and interests. I value the variety
of perspectives that these opportunities have brought into my professional domain. I believe that therapeutic relationships
are exactly that; the relational dynamic is where change can occur. Appreciating the philosophy of phenomenology, I believe
that my clients will teach me as much as I might them. How do I work? My therapeutic interests include existential,
transpersonal and holistic wellness. Sometimes cognitive-behavioral modalities are effective in managing immediate concerns,
and when indicated I will offer these techniques. Intentional selection and utilization of therapeutic interventions is a
skill. Dialogue with the client and clinical insight indicate which techniques to employ in order to achieve the stated desired
outcome. I have extensive experience working with vulnerable and marginalized demographics. In order to keep myself informed
and academically stimulated I enjoy attending workshops and seminars presented by specialists in particular domains and collaborating
with professional colleagues. I find that this encourages me to continue investigating and broadens my outlook. I have attached
a link to some questions that I have found useful in supporting individuals in knowing what they have a right to ask a prospective
therapist. Feel free to print it out and take it with you as you interview your potential therapists. The process of locating a therapist
and understanding the profession need not be mysterious. The next few paragraphs will address some of the questions and misinformation commonly
encountered. Often there appears to be a lack of accessible information for those seeking therapeutic services. On the
following page are some additional considerations and thoughts. It is quite comprehensive, so if you are a "keep it simple"
person, this page will have given you sufficient information; you do not need to continue to the next! I hope that this has helped you decide
what your next steps will be. Don't forget, you are the consumer! You have the right to choose your therapist. And a therapist
has the right to choose their clients. There will be a good match for both parties; there are plenty of options, plenty of
therapists. You will find the right one to work with you if you talk to some of us. I wish you the best in your search. Yours, Jo |
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