Jo Ryder

Psychotherapy Training and Accreditation

Initially training with Accord in Marriage Education Facilitation and with the suicide prevention service Teenline, Jo has specialised in sex and relationship therapy. She now holds the London Foundation Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy and the London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy. Prior and ongoing CPD training includes Couples Counselling using an Integrative approach, the Resnick’s Gestalt couples therapy training, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy. Jo is a pre-accredited member of COSRT, attends regular supervision and abides by the Code of Ethics laid down by COSRT.

Counselling and Therapeutic Approach

Jo’s psychotherapeutic approach is Integrative and she mainly works with Person Centred, Gestalt, TA (Transactional Analysis), CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Transpersonal techniques.

Through working with individuals and couples, Jo has come to see that the basis of healing and therapy comes from the relationship formed between the therapist and client, through presence, congruence, psycho education and modelling. Jo draws from Imago for couples’ relationship therapy, using its theory, tools and techniques to facilitate the couple’s connection and growth.
Jo works with both individuals and couples that are straight, gay and all sexual preferences in between. She is particularly comfortable with sexual healing and trauma, spending the time required for a history intake to uncover the root causes of the presenting issue before choosing the appropriate therapeutic interventions that will self-empower the client to move beyond the old behaviours, thoughts and beliefs that are holding them back.

Counselling Experience and Areas of Interest

Jo’s particular area of comfort and personal experience lies in the mind, body, spirit connection. Before specialising in psychosexual and relationship therapy, she worked in alternative healing and care for a number of years.

When exploring the root causes of relational and sexual dis-ease, it is important to delve into the family history and early sexual experiences to uncover the wounds that may have contributed to the dysfunction. Organic issues such as diabetes or low testosterone may be involved in causing a presenting problem today but in some cases, at the root of the physical issue also lies a mental equivalent that is tied up in the negative messages about sexuality that have been swallowed whole in the early years. Jo helps to uncover and unpack these messages whilst exploring their meaning for the client to provide growth, healing and a return to a healthy expression of one’s sexuality.