JR Portrait of Joanne Ruff

Joanne Ruff, BACP

Calm, person-centred support for anxiety and trauma

15 years in practice · based in United Kingdom · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Joanne

Joanne Ruff is a counsellor with 15 years of experience working in the United Kingdom. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and focuses on common problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. Joanne aims to create a calm, non-judgemental space where people can talk about what matters to them.

Her approach is straightforward and person-focused. She uses client-centred techniques to listen and respond to each person's concerns.

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Background and approach

Attachment-based ideas help her explore how past relationships affect current feelings and behaviour. Joanne also works with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, often used to ease distress linked to traumatic memories. She combines this with practical steps for day-to-day coping, such as managing panic, low mood or difficult memories.

The aim is to reduce the hold of troubling experiences while building useful strategies for now. She supports people dealing with a wide range of issues beyond core concerns, including abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness, dissociation and relationship patterns. Sessions concentrate on what the client wants to change and on small, achievable goals.

Joanne invites clients to try approaches at a comfortable pace. She encourages questions about the process and adapts work to suit each person's needs and life situation.

How her approaches work online and what to expect

Joanne uses client-centred counselling to listen deeply and follow each person's concerns, helping people feel heard and understood before planning next steps. Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current emotional responses and behaviour, which can help with patterns of anxiety, trust or abandonment.

She also offers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a method that targets distressing memories and the strong emotions linked to them. EMDR can be useful for people struggling with traumatic events, intrusive memories or overwhelming reactions, and it can be adapted for remote sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Joanne collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs and comfort level. She will discuss options openly and adapt the plan as therapy progresses so the approach evolves with the client's situation.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for fuller interaction and visual cues, phone works well for lower bandwidth or a shorter check-in, and chat or messaging suits people who prefer writing or need flexible timing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel while keeping continuity of care.
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Questions people ask

What kinds of difficulties does Joanne help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and related issues such as low self-esteem and motivation.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centred and warm, with attention to attachment patterns and practical coping strategies tailored to each person.
What experience does she bring?
She has 15 years of professional experience supporting people with common mental health and trauma-related concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
She works online using video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs.
How are costs arranged?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Experience
15 years
Licensed
Languages
English

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