WELCOME
Welcome to Off Beat Therapy - offering affirmative, anti-oppressive therapeutic counselling and training.
Welcome. I'm Josiah. I'm an integrative counsellor and the founder of Off Beat Therapy. I see clients both online and in Farnham, Surrey. Off Beat provides counselling to all aged 18+, with a particular focus on serving those who may not feel comfortable or accepted at traditional therapy services.
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I believe counselling is about connection, humour, difficulty and everything in between. You can expect me to be an authentic human who values deep connection and realness. I work with a variety of issues ranging from anxiety, depression, feeling sad or worried, family/relationship issues, trauma, abuse, identity, stress, loneliness, discrimination and oppression.
My particular focus is being able to discuss, with cultural fluency, the ways these issues are compounded by race, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, size, disability and 'otherness'. I bring a lived experience perspective when working with autistic, trans/non-binary and queer clients. I am a certified trauma-informed practitioner which means safety is the foundation of everything I do. I also have a background in creative/play-based techniques.
You can see more about my experience and qualifications below.
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I also provide diversity training, specialising in teaching about working with trans and autistic clients/communities at cultural depth. More information about workshops is available on the ‘Training’ page.
OFF BEAT THERAPY
Off Beat Therapy is designed to do things differently.
Many of the communities I work with face barriers when accessing counselling. My clients are often people who have felt uncomfortable, unwelcome or restricted when using traditional therapy services. Off Beat Therapy asks the question "How could things be different for the benefit of clients?"
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Your counselling appointments are an opportunity to set aside time that is dedicated to you. I aim to provide an environment where every aspect of you is welcome. The work I do is also intersectional, based on the belief that you shouldn't need to go to different services for different parts of your identity to be understood and accepted.
My work is often creative, visual and quirky - a bit off-beat. ​​
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More information is available on the ‘FAQ’ page.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Professional experience
I began my career working with queer youth at risk of exploitation and homelessness. I worked within trans communities for many years and co-founded cliniQ - Europe's first trans specific holistic sexual health and counselling service. I have since worked in counselling agencies, outdoor education, summer camps, schools, sexual health clinics, diversity training organisations, outreach services and charities.
My counselling experience has included working with the trans community and adult survivors of childhood abuse.
Qualifications and Memberships
I qualified with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. I also hold a multidisciplinary BSc (hons) degree with a focus on child psychology and counselling, a qualification in Counselling Children in Schools and am a certified Trauma Informed Practitioner.
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I attend regular continuous professional development training and am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I am also a 'friend' member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) which gives me access to training from therapists within these communities. I am a member of the Pink Therapy directory of LGBTQ+ counsellors. You can find out about these organisations/check my listings using the logos below:
Training
I have over 15 years experience designing and delivering diversity training. I am also a CPCAB tutor. I specialise in workshops that are celebrative of trans and neurodivergent communities and approach learning in a different, immersive way.
For more information about training, please see the 'Training' page.
LGBTQ+ affirmative and neuroinclusive counsellor, certified trauma informed practitioner, NCPS Accredited Member, Friend of BAATN practitioner member
