'Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the Awareness behind them - Eckhart Tolle
'Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the Awareness behind them - Eckhart Tolle
Jocelyn Meli Therapy
Specialist Trauma Therapy & Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Testimonials
'The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.' Carl Rogers
Ange - Client
Jane Aldred Psychotherapist, MA, MBACP - Endorsement
"Jocelyn is a skilful and brilliant trauma therapist with many years of experience. I would highly recommend her if you are looking for help."
Thomas - Client
I know that, when you’ve been seized by PTSD, it can seem impossible to see any hope, let alone a route out. But that’s a PTSD lie. The truth is that there is a way out, but the catch is that you can’t get there by yourself, you need help, and that help has to be skilled, patient, knowledgable and compassionate - four words which sum up the abilities and character of Jocelyn Meli.
It can be hard, especially when you’re suffering, to find the trust required to commit to therapy. This is why honest, experience based testimonials are so important, and this is mine. Don’t hide from PTSD, certainly don’t try to live with it, you have to deal with it for the sake of yourself and those around you. Therapy is the only answer, and the quicker you commit to it, the better the outcome will be. Don’t be kidded, you can’t just sit and listen, it’s really hard work with a lot of mountains to climb, but I promise that the view from the top will give you your life back. Finally, nobody, but nobody, is better equipped to show you the route out of PTSD, keep you on the right path and encourage you to complete it than Joss. You can trust her, I can vouch for that.
Carola - Client
Cathy - Client
"I am so grateful for Joss' support at this time in my life as I found her counselling extremely helpful and healing. She worked with me in a sensitive and emphatic way, always reflecting back to me, insightful observations, which I was then able to incorporate in my journey
towards self-awareness and healing. I always felt held and safe in her nurturing presence and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a gentle, aware and compassionate counsellor."
Kate - Client
"I worked with Joss (on zoom) for about 20 weeks. Early on in our working relationship I was struck by how ‘well heard’ I felt by her - that she very quickly got where I was coming from, and would reflect this back to me with clear insight. I soon learnt that I
Oliver - client
irreparable damage to family, relationships and self worth. Joss was able to step into the gap and was incredibly flexible in offering her support. She expertly guided me through the process to turn negative behaviours around while also providing an ear when needed. I would highly recommend anyone who is in a difficult place to talk with Joss."
Lys - client
Amelia - client
Jill - client
"I worked with Joss for almost two years , following a very difficult crossroads in my life in my late 20's. Anxiety and learnt behavioural patterns and belief systems were crippling me from reaching my full potential, connecting with my
authentic self, seeing a path forwards and being happy. Joss’s kind, compassionate and caring approach always made me feel safe. She created a judgement-free space where I felt supported and heard. Working with Joss has been nothing short of transformational for me. Her holistic approach, applying different techniques and methods where necessary, meant that we could work through many different issues. Working with Joss has guided me through some really difficult times mentally, helped me to connect with my authentic self, build my resilience and transform my life, as well as make decisions for myself that better align with who I am. I am so much happier and have a much healthier outlook on life. I will forever be grateful for this gift and finding Joss".
"I came to Joss at a very low point in my life and was feeling quite desperate as I saw no improvement after previous therapy elsewhere.
I had grown up in a very cold family and was the focus of constant criticism and as a result had very low self esteem. Not just from parents, but extended dysfunctional family. Joss explained the process and asked me to trust that process. She immediately gave me techniques to help whilst the therapy started. I learned quickly that through these techniques that I wasn't the 'problem child' but I was in a toxic environment with damaging parents who knew no better themselves. We went through the process which she often stressed "trust the process". We started by creating a timeline of my life and concentrating on key events, processing these. I learned to nurture my inner child who I realised I had abandoned. She walked me through the sessions and we followed a process going through different phases. We only moved on to the next phase when I was ready and I was never rushed. I learned so much about myself and have been given techniques I can use for the rest of my life. At the end of this process I could not believe the improvement. Not only had I improved so much, but I was better and had far more insight into myself. I really couldn't see a way out of my situation and thinking, but I trusted the process and it worked.
Joss is patient and so quick to spot erroneous thinking and I would very much recommend her."
David - client
Hugh's story...
I'm 66 year old male. and am coming to the end of 17 months of counselling with Joss. This is probably the best thing I've done for myself... ever.
I grew up in a family with a lot of arguments, fear and constant vigilance... my father was an alcoholic, who, mostly, emotionally abused me, and I witnessed physical abuse of my mother. I was ridiculed , threatened with death and made to feel worthless. This went on for years. I've experienced difficulties trusting people, and have found romantic relationships particularly challenging. I've felt undeserving of love, but also become dependant on love from outside of myself. I've suffered from depression for almost all my life. At times suicidal and hopeless of any future.
The work with Joss has focused on helping me work though the trauma from my childhood. The therapy has involved, learning to recognise my feelings, name them and understand the links and the difference between thoughts and feelings. I've learned also to use physical body " tapping" and breathing techniques to better regulate my previous behaviour which would cause me to shut down my feelings and shut other out of my life. This has involved acknowledging and working through my "triggers". Once I was better able to manage my and "control " the automatic "flight or fight " behaviour, I could then start work to reprocessing some of the specific "traumatic " incidents. Through IRRT I was able to leave the Trauma " in the past " while continuing to nurture myself now and my self as the helpless child I was then.
This work took time, at times I wanted to give up... but I'm so thankful I continued.
This has been an extraordinary adventure, not easy, and at times a bit scary.
But, doing this work with the guidance, support and professionalism from Joss, has changed my life for the better.
I am now it a much stronger place to face my feelings recognising them to have much less control over me. I am more contented with who I am. I have greatly reduced my medication and I no longer shut down as a way of protecting myself. I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this work.
I am on an ongoing journey of thanks for who I am, remembering to have compassion for myself and others.
Hughie
Emma's story...
I have been struggling greatly for several years with my mental wellbeing, experiencing regular long periods of depressed moods, negative thought patterns, and recurrent suicidal ideation. This seriously affected all aspects of my life, and I felt completely stuck in this mindset. I felt heartbreaking emotional pain almost every day. I felt like I was unable to enjoy life.
Working with Joss has helped me completely change my way of thinking and provided me with a number of tools and coping mechanisms that have drastically improved my quality of life. I was in such a dark place that I truly didn’t believe there was any way I could improve my mental health.
The benefits I have gained from counselling cannot be understated. I have a much stronger sense of self, and compassion towards myself; I am aware of how to take care of myself and combat negative thought patterns; I have been able to pursue my hobbies again after years of feeling too depressed to do so; I have improved my physical health by exercising at the gym and fitness classes, something I would never have had the courage to do; I have been able to build relationships in this community and I participate in activities within it, which has been so important to me as a newcomer to the area.
I still have bad days, and there are times when I revert to the mental state that became the norm for me. However, the difference is that I have a wealth of tools and coping mechanisms at my disposal that allow me to combat moods that may have spiralled into suicidal thoughts followed by a several weeks-long depressive episode. In addition to this, knowing I can speak to my counsellor at any time to talk things through – knowing that support is readily available – makes me feel a lot safer and more secure.
Inspirational quotes
Love Yourself First
Trauma doesn't have to be a life sentence
Self-Compassion is the foundation for Healing
You have to safely
feel it, to heal it!
Learn to safely retreat rather than dissociate
Water the
Seeds of Joy!
Trauma thrives in isolation
Resistance is 80% of suffering
Trauma requires an holistic approach
to healing and recovery
It's NOT
your fault!
Feed Your Demons as though they are your friends
Trauma recovery needs healthy connection
If you're feeling impatient... have a cup tea
Make friends with all aspects of yourself, that's how we can reverse feeling fragmented
Trauma is ultimately the most profound journey of
self-discovery
The past doesn't have to define the future
In trauma we get
frozen in time
You're not
your trauma
Ultimately, it's your own cognitive Awareness that's going to heal you
You can't go back on your own evolution
Trauma is a hijack of 4 channels: body sensations, feelings, thoughts and behaviours
You're not crazy. They are symptoms of trauma
Trauma is appropriate for the actual traumatic event,
but thereafter, totally unnecessary and serves no purpose other than prolonged suffering.
Healthy therapy won't ever re-traumatise you
If there is any value to trauma at all, it has the potential
to wake us up.
Trauma is normal. It's a reaction in the brain and nervous system.
With an evidence-based trauma process, healing and recovery is totally possible.
