Adjustment difficulties
Alexithymia
Anger Management
Anorexia nervosa (AN) - restrictive subtype
Anxiety
Anxious personality disorder
Attachment disorder
Binge eating
Bipolar spectrum disorders
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Bulimia nervosa (BN)
Burnout
Career development
Chronic pain
Coaching
Confidence
Coping with a long-term health condition
Coping with an acute health condition
Dependent personality disorder
Depression
Dissocial (antisocial) personality disorder
Emetophobia (vomit phobia)
Emotional dysregulation
Emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)
End of relationship difficulties
Family difficulties
Gender identity concerns
General wellness
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Grief
Health anxiety
Histrionic personality disorder
Identity concerns
Insomnia
Job challenges
Narcissistic personality disorder
Neglect
Obsessive compulsive (anankastic) personality disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Other abuse
Other eating disorder
Other mental health concern
Other perinatal mental health condition
Other phobia
Panic disorder
Paranoid personality disorder
Perfectionism
Perinatal OCD
Perinatal anxiety
Perinatal depression
Perinatal mood disorders
Personality disorder
Prolonged grief
Relationships
Schizoid personality disorder
Self-esteem
Sexual abuse
Sexual health
Sleep difficulties
Social phobia
Stress
Stress management
Tic disorders
Trauma (general)
Women's health
Dr

Jo Smithers

 
(
She/Her
)

Clinical Psychologist

DClinPsy

During therapy I offer curiosity, warmth, empathy and strategies to help you to manage a range of issues.

Book a session

Insurers

Axa
BUPA
Vitality
Cigna
Zurich
Travelers
Case Managers

Languages

English

About me

Life can overwhelm us at times meaning we need help to find ways to manage this. Depending on what you are dealing with and the resources you have available to you, this can lead to a range of emotional difficulties. These include anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessions, body dysmorphia, grief, anger, eating, relationship, and work difficulties. I am experienced in working with all these presentations, having done so in over 30 years as an NHS clinical psychologist within mental health. During therapy I offer curiosity, warmth, empathy and strategies to help you to manage these issues. I draw on broad range of psychological approaches. I am mostly oriented towards attachment and relational models which involve thinking with you about, who you are, what you want and what is driving your difficulties. I aim to create a safe relational space in which to explore fundamental issues such as identity, relationships, fear and fulfilment. I have the skills and experience to take you safely and effectively through what can sometimes be threatening levels of distress. I can help you in the process of understanding yourself more fully, relating to yourself in a more nurturing manner, managing your distress more effectively and moving towards fundamental change at your own pace.

Area I can help with

Adjustment difficulties
Alexithymia
Anger Management
Anorexia nervosa (AN) - restrictive subtype
Anxiety
Anxious personality disorder
Attachment disorder
Binge eating
Bipolar spectrum disorders
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Bulimia nervosa (BN)
Burnout
Career development
Chronic pain
Coaching
Confidence
Coping with a long-term health condition
Coping with an acute health condition
Dependent personality disorder
Depression
Dissocial (antisocial) personality disorder
Emetophobia (vomit phobia)
Emotional dysregulation
Emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)
End of relationship difficulties
Family difficulties
Gender identity concerns
General wellness
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Grief
Health anxiety
Histrionic personality disorder
Identity concerns
Insomnia
Job challenges
Narcissistic personality disorder
Neglect
Obsessive compulsive (anankastic) personality disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Other abuse
Other eating disorder
Other mental health concern
Other perinatal mental health condition
Other phobia
Panic disorder
Paranoid personality disorder
Perfectionism
Perinatal OCD
Perinatal anxiety
Perinatal depression
Perinatal mood disorders
Personality disorder
Prolonged grief
Relationships
Schizoid personality disorder
Self-esteem
Sexual abuse
Sexual health
Sleep difficulties
Social phobia
Stress
Stress management
Tic disorders
Trauma (general)
Women's health

Types of therapy I offer

Trauma-Focused ACT (TFACT)
Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT)
Compassion Focused Therapy for Eating Disorders (CFT-E)
Skills based intervention
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Cosmetic Surgery Assessments
Full Psychological Assessments (60-90 minute)

Qualifications

Health and Care Professions Council
Registered Member of HCPC and BPS Chartered Clinical Psychologist C
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2025 - present
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Work experience

Various NHS Trusts
Clinical Psychologist
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1993 - present
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Education

Cardiff University
BPS Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
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2004 - present
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