About Me
My name is Joanne Lindsay, and I have been working in private practice since 2011, following several years of experience primarily within the Substance Misuse sector.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), currently working towards full accreditation. My practice is grounded in their ethical frameworks, which guide every aspect of my work.
While qualifications are important (you’ll find mine listed below), I also believe it’s helpful to share a little about the journey that brought me to counselling—though please feel free to skip this part if you’d prefer just the formal details.
From a young age, I was drawn to wellbeing and alternative therapies. During school, I completed my work experience in a health food shop with a therapy centre attached—and I loved it. However, life took me in other directions. I chose A-levels that weren’t the right fit for me, and instead found myself working across shops, pubs, pre-schools, factories, and more. Those years gave me invaluable life experience: marriage, moving abroad, raising children, and navigating both supportive and challenging relationships.
In 2007, I returned to Taunton as a single parent with two young children. This became the turning point in my journey. Wanting to build a career with real purpose, I took a Counselling Skills course—which I absolutely loved. At one stage, I applied for nursing, but a delayed reference (thanks to the heavy snow in 2009!) meant my application never went through. Looking back, it feels like fate. Nursing would have been about helping others, but not in the way I was truly passionate about. Instead, I followed my instincts and continued my training with a Level 4 Counselling Diploma.
That decision reconnected me with the passion I’d felt years earlier for therapy and personal growth. Since then, I’ve built a career I genuinely love—supporting people through life’s challenges and helping them move towards change, healing, and self-understanding.
Professional Qualifications
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling skills at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, Somerset
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, Somerset
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at Strode College, Street, Somerset
CPCAB level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills and Theory at Redlands Counselling College, Bournemouth, Dorset.
Level 7 Accredited Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
Level 7 NCS Accredited Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
BACP Endorsed Training in Hypnotherapy for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Accredited Teachers Diploma Certificate in Mediation Tuition - Gateway Workshops
BACP Endorsed Training in Coaching for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Reiki and Seichem Diploma Level 1 and 2 - Gateway Workshops
Diploma in Bach Flower Remedies - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Indian Head Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Seated Acupressure Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Essential Oils for business
Level 3 Award in Education - Bridgewater college
Applied EFT for Practitioners
Other Experience
Alongside building my private practice, I gained extensive experience working in the field of substance misuse and mental health.
I began during my training by working in a residential Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre, where I received both in-house and professional training on substance misuse, mental health, and the complexities of Addictive Personality Disorder. This role gave me a deep understanding of addiction and its far-reaching effects.
I then joined Turning Point, a community-based substance misuse service, initially as a volunteer counsellor. In this role, I delivered Motivational Enhancement Therapy to clients struggling with substance use and provided integrative counselling to those with more complex needs. I later became a Recovery Worker, supporting clients in accessing psychological treatments, medical interventions, and community resources. I worked with Turning Point for seven years, gaining invaluable insight into recovery journeys and the many challenges clients face.
After leaving Turning Point, I spent three years working on an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helpline, where I provided immediate emotional support over the phone and assessed clients for short-term therapeutic interventions.
Today, I primarily focus on my private practice, offering counselling, supervision, training, hypnotherapy, coaching, and a range of holistic therapies. I also provide specialist mental health mentoring for university students, supporting their wellbeing alongside their studies.
I believe that with counselling you never stop learning. Since beginning my career in 2011, I’ve continued to pursue further training and professional development opportunities, always aiming to expand my knowledge and strengthen the support I can offer to clients.
Other training
Motivational Enhancement Therapy training.
Motivational Interviewing Technique.
Mental Health First Aid Certificate. (MHFA)
Recovery Skills
Mindfulness Skills
Emotional Coping Skills
ASIST trained (Applied Suicide Intervention)
Children and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding training
Positive Behavioural Management
Introduction to Change skills
Suicide and self harm training
Emergency First Aid in the Work place
Adolescent Development in Substance Misuse
Brief Alcohol interventions with Young People
Soul and Sand-trays with counselling Supervision
Domestic Violence Training Adults and Young People
Volatile Substances Misuse
Safeguarding
The Rewind Technique for Trauma and Phobias
I hold a First Aid certificate through St John Ambulance.
Although I can not offer British Sign Language, I do have experience of working with people who have a hearing impairment. (Please give me notice if you would benefit from a hearing loop).
My name is Joanne Lindsay, and I have been working in private practice since 2011, following several years of experience primarily within the Substance Misuse sector.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), currently working towards full accreditation. My practice is grounded in their ethical frameworks, which guide every aspect of my work.
While qualifications are important (you’ll find mine listed below), I also believe it’s helpful to share a little about the journey that brought me to counselling—though please feel free to skip this part if you’d prefer just the formal details.
From a young age, I was drawn to wellbeing and alternative therapies. During school, I completed my work experience in a health food shop with a therapy centre attached—and I loved it. However, life took me in other directions. I chose A-levels that weren’t the right fit for me, and instead found myself working across shops, pubs, pre-schools, factories, and more. Those years gave me invaluable life experience: marriage, moving abroad, raising children, and navigating both supportive and challenging relationships.
In 2007, I returned to Taunton as a single parent with two young children. This became the turning point in my journey. Wanting to build a career with real purpose, I took a Counselling Skills course—which I absolutely loved. At one stage, I applied for nursing, but a delayed reference (thanks to the heavy snow in 2009!) meant my application never went through. Looking back, it feels like fate. Nursing would have been about helping others, but not in the way I was truly passionate about. Instead, I followed my instincts and continued my training with a Level 4 Counselling Diploma.
That decision reconnected me with the passion I’d felt years earlier for therapy and personal growth. Since then, I’ve built a career I genuinely love—supporting people through life’s challenges and helping them move towards change, healing, and self-understanding.
Professional Qualifications
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling skills at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, Somerset
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, Taunton, Somerset
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at Strode College, Street, Somerset
CPCAB level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills and Theory at Redlands Counselling College, Bournemouth, Dorset.
Level 7 Accredited Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
Level 7 NCS Accredited Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision at KRCS
BACP Endorsed Training in Hypnotherapy for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Accredited Teachers Diploma Certificate in Mediation Tuition - Gateway Workshops
BACP Endorsed Training in Coaching for Counsellors - NLP Vision
Reiki and Seichem Diploma Level 1 and 2 - Gateway Workshops
Diploma in Bach Flower Remedies - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Indian Head Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Seated Acupressure Massage - Gateway Workshops
Accredited Diploma in Essential Oils for business
Level 3 Award in Education - Bridgewater college
Applied EFT for Practitioners
Other Experience
Alongside building my private practice, I gained extensive experience working in the field of substance misuse and mental health.
I began during my training by working in a residential Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre, where I received both in-house and professional training on substance misuse, mental health, and the complexities of Addictive Personality Disorder. This role gave me a deep understanding of addiction and its far-reaching effects.
I then joined Turning Point, a community-based substance misuse service, initially as a volunteer counsellor. In this role, I delivered Motivational Enhancement Therapy to clients struggling with substance use and provided integrative counselling to those with more complex needs. I later became a Recovery Worker, supporting clients in accessing psychological treatments, medical interventions, and community resources. I worked with Turning Point for seven years, gaining invaluable insight into recovery journeys and the many challenges clients face.
After leaving Turning Point, I spent three years working on an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helpline, where I provided immediate emotional support over the phone and assessed clients for short-term therapeutic interventions.
Today, I primarily focus on my private practice, offering counselling, supervision, training, hypnotherapy, coaching, and a range of holistic therapies. I also provide specialist mental health mentoring for university students, supporting their wellbeing alongside their studies.
I believe that with counselling you never stop learning. Since beginning my career in 2011, I’ve continued to pursue further training and professional development opportunities, always aiming to expand my knowledge and strengthen the support I can offer to clients.
Other training
Motivational Enhancement Therapy training.
Motivational Interviewing Technique.
Mental Health First Aid Certificate. (MHFA)
Recovery Skills
Mindfulness Skills
Emotional Coping Skills
ASIST trained (Applied Suicide Intervention)
Children and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding training
Positive Behavioural Management
Introduction to Change skills
Suicide and self harm training
Emergency First Aid in the Work place
Adolescent Development in Substance Misuse
Brief Alcohol interventions with Young People
Soul and Sand-trays with counselling Supervision
Domestic Violence Training Adults and Young People
Volatile Substances Misuse
Safeguarding
The Rewind Technique for Trauma and Phobias
I hold a First Aid certificate through St John Ambulance.
Although I can not offer British Sign Language, I do have experience of working with people who have a hearing impairment. (Please give me notice if you would benefit from a hearing loop).
Registered with Counselling Directory
