About Mainstone Counselling & Psychotherapy

Jodie Mainstone

Psychotherapist | Counsellor| Clinical Supervisor | Trainer

Dip Couns, MBACP (Accred), AP (Accred), NCAC
BACP & AP Registered Psychotherapist & EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant Supervisor

I’m a BACP and AP registered and accredited psychotherapist and an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant Supervisor, with over 20 years’ experience working in mental health and supporting people through a wide range of emotional and psychological experiences.

Since qualifying as a psychotherapist in July 2007, I’ve worked across a variety of settings in both the UK and South Africa, including treatment centres and therapeutic organisations. These experiences have given me a broad and in depth understanding of therapeutic work, complex mental health presentations and clinical practice.

By 2017, I had taken on a number of senior clinical roles within organisations and had begun developing my private practice, which I now run full time.

I currently see clients face to face in Hampstead (NW3) on Mondays and offer online sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I also provide pre booked face to face EMDR intensive sessions on selected Sundays.

My dog Izzy sometimes joins me on intensive days, where appropriate and always with the client's agreement. For clients who enjoy being around animals, having a dog in the room can offer an additional sense of comfort and grounding.

My areas of specialism

My areas of particular interest and experience include trauma, including PTSD, complex PTSD and attachment and developmental trauma, eating disorders and neurodivergence.

I am particularly passionate about working with autistic and ADHD people, including those who have been diagnosed or identified later in life and those who are exploring whether they may be neurodivergent. I work from an affirming perspective, recognising differences rather than automatically viewing them as deficits that need to be changed.

I also work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, low self esteem, bereavement and a range of other emotional and psychological difficulties. People do not always arrive in therapy with a diagnosis or a clear explanation for why they are struggling, and you do not need one to begin therapy.

How I work

My approach is integrative, which means I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches according to the individual person rather than expecting everyone to fit one particular model.

My training and practice incorporate person centred therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR, psychodynamic therapy and systemic and family approaches.

I don’t believe in a one size fits all approach to therapy. People differ in how they communicate, process information, experience emotions and make sense of themselves and the world around them. Therapy needs to be flexible enough to recognise those differences.

Above all, I aim to offer a compassionate, collaborative space where you can explore what is happening for you, understand yourself and your experiences more fully and work towards the changes that matter to you.

Supervision

Alongside my clinical practice, I provide clinical supervision to integrative therapists and EMDR therapists, including practitioners developing their EMDR practice and working towards EMDR UK accreditation.

As an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant Supervisor, I support therapists with clinical formulation, complex presentations, developing their EMDR practice and thinking critically and reflectively about their work.

Training and consultancy

Training has become an increasingly important part of my work.

I provide bespoke training and consultancy for clinicians, mental health services and organisations, with a particular focus on neurodivergence, trauma, mental health, accessibility and inclusive clinical practice.

I have had the pleasure of delivering training professionals working across substance misuse services, adolescent services, eating disorder services, behavioural health organisations and education and special educational needs settings.

My training is grounded in clinical experience, current research and practical application. I want professionals to leave training not simply knowing more, but thinking differently about the people they work with and having practical ways to make their work more accessible and responsive.

You can find out more about my supervision work, professional training and consultancy work at mainstoneconsulting.co.uk.

Why I became a therapist

My own journey into therapy began when I sought support for myself when I was younger. Experiencing the difference that having a safe space and another person alongside me could make had a profound impact on me and ultimately influenced my decision to become a therapist.

Both my personal and professional experiences continue to shape the way I work. More than 20 years into this profession, I remain curious, continue to learn and try not to assume that I already understand another person’s experience.

I remain deeply passionate about what I do and feel very fortunate to be able to support people as they understand themselves and their experiences, process what has happened to them and find ways forward that feel right for them.