Qualifications in both Social Work & Counselling.

SENSORY-SOMATIC GRADED EXPOSURE 


ACC ISSC Provider (PAN935).

Referrals welcome from anyone.

(Contractor for ACC for  Adjunct Hours, Counselling, Social Work, Group Work services) 

Phone: 022 521 2512; Email   jostewartpp@gmail.com

Welcome! I completed my Masters of Education in Counselling (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Social Work (Honors) at the University of Canterbury in 2004 and now work privately, working with individuals/whanau as well as previously contracted by a medical centre to work with their patients. I love what I do and strive to have a friendly, flexible, creative  approach adapted to suit clients. A key interest I have, is in the area of human connection, somatic graded exposure;  to address the hidden impact of loneliness on health (physical and mental health).  I  specialize in connecting people in to their communities with a range of resources and tools including  behavioural activation, affect regulation, somatic strategies.  

My qualifications allow me to offer  the following different professional services:

  • COUNSELLING
  • SOCIAL WORK
  • SUPERVISION 
  • GROUP WORK including Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Anxiety Management  

Jo’s main area of interest and specialty is;

Sensory–Somatic Graded Exposure
Is anxiety or PTSD stopping you from leaving the house or doing things you enjoy?
Do you want support to reconnect with life at a pace that feels right for you?
Attended trauma sensitive yoga and want to integrate ideas in to everyday life situations?
Based either in Jo’s office, through home visits, or in the community, walk and talk approach.
How It Works
 Trauma-informed approach – your safety and comfort come first
 Psychoeducation – learn why your body responds as it does and strategies to manage it, based on research
 Graded exposure, titration– step-by-step support to face situations, activities, or sensations that trigger anxiety/ fight-flight-freeze
 Hierarchy building – starting with less triggering experiences and moving toward your
goals
 Body-based & meta cognitive strategies – notice not only thoughts but also bodily sensations and impulses

 Mind–body awareness – recognise early signs of stress or dysregulation

What You Can Expect
 A supportive, understanding presence
 Gradual and personalised steps
 Learning tools to manage anxiety and PTSD
 Practical strategies that fit into your life

Please click under the menu bar for more details for each of the other services provided.

My other  qualifications include CBT Drug and Alcohol training, Certificate in Grief Support, ACT Trauma, 20 hours Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), Paris Williams Mindfulness Somatic training. Safe & Sound Protocol (completing at present), Powerfully You (sensory). I’m a trained facilitator in many franchise group programmes and also undergone supervision training. 

I have a strong interest in behavioural activation, graded exposure, affect regulation work/polyvagal tools, and forming connections for people in the community as well as  addressing lifestyle factors. Helping those with trauma, chronic health and/or pain to connect with, and participate in, the community, exercise,  work and study.   “Take the I out of Illness, and add WE, and you have wellness” Charles Roppel.  

Please refer to the counselling section to view the modalities I interweave into my practice.

I welcome self referrals, referrals form SCS therapists, GPs and community agencies. Please feel free to contact me because I find a conversation always helps to decide the direction when taking that first step to enter therapeutic work with any professional.

As an  ACC Sensitive Claims provider, and WINZ provider, there are funding opportunities potentially available.  Ring to discuss further options.