Hi, I am Joel Burns, a qualified Psychotherapist based in the UK with 7 years’ professional counselling experience who work in an integrated and pluralistic way. I have a creative and compassionate style, I work with both current life problems as well as longer-term concerns. I offer a warm sacred space to help with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, trauma, addiction, loss and grief, family, personal and professional issues you struggle to unravel on your own. Having a safe confidential space to feel heard can bring about great relief when experiencing difficulties.
Past life experiences and relationships shape us in ways we may not be aware of, past patterns and behaviours may become counterproductive.
Shining a light on the unconscious can help you to gain understanding and self-awareness, helping you to make the changes you want. I have a calm, non-judgemental and compassionate approach with a mindfulness to work at your pace.
Originally from USA, I have worked and studied in several countries and am passionate about life in a multi-cultural society. My intention is to provide therapy for all who seek the support, regardless of race, caste, culture, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, sexuality, gender, disability, age, or any other diversity and difference. I am a creative, lifelong learner and motivated personality, my professional background is in Counselling, Sport, Education, and Social Work. I believe in a holistic approach to life's challenges including personal growth and self-expression and actualisation Through my experience of working with thousands of adults, children, and families, I have been fortunate that clients have shared their deepest feelings with me, it is through connecting to their emotional experiences that I also stay rooted in my own sense of awareness and self. Therapist can only effectively work with clients in an authentic way if they are also capable of navigating through life’s challenges with a healthy perspective. It is my opinion that until a therapist has worked on their own personal growth, only then can they be truly effective in guiding clients towards positive choices and full potential.
My counselling approach is educative and supportive. I aim to help Individuals to use their resources and skills to support in finding one’s passions and ways of coping. My goal in counselling is to educate clients on their treatment options, refer to appropriate sources, help them to know what to expect and deal with difficulties appropriately. The goal for each counselling session is to teach coping skills, build awareness, insight, motivation, problem solving, self-learning and encourage autonomy. Starting the counselling journey can be a daunting development, at times it can be challenging to question ourselves or to discover why we feel or behave the way we do. There maybe times when we feel it is too difficult to really be truly honest with ourselves or allow ourselves to be vulnerable, this is normal and all part of the self healing process. My aim is to empower clients through helping to create a safe space to build personal knowledge and inner growth. I work in an integrative way, drawing elements of person-centred theory, Pluralism, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt and cognitive behaviour (CBT) and positive psychology integrated in a way that meets your unique needs. Learning how to embrace imperfections while remaining open to self- improvement presents great opportunities for meaningful change and self-love. I am of the belief that everyone is a continuous, ever-changing work in progress, and I feel that the connections and rapport we build together is paramount to therapeutic success. I hope to be an agent for change for my clients by assisting them in the process of discovery and acceptance of self. I offer a collaborativeand safe therapeutic relationship putting you at the centre of your own therapy.
NCPS Therapist - Accredited Member (MNCPS Accred) #NCS22-02756
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Joel Burns. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Joel is a wonderful therapist. We have only been working together for a short time, but I can tell that his support will be profoundly impactful. He provides a brilliant balance of space for you to uncover your own feelings, along with insights and encouragement to support your healing. Highly recommend.
Written on Apr 25, 2026 after therapy with Joel for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma and abuse
I can’t do this now
Written on Apr 24, 2026 after therapy with Joel for 3 weeks on issues concerning grief, and anger management
I have only just started with Joel but so far he has given me so much information to work with about myself. The key thing is that he listens well, does not interupt and allows you to almost work your way to an answer, then he takes that answer and applies detailed ways to help solidify that into a practical routine. I am well and truly looking forward to working with him more and seeing myself get back to a better place.
Written on Mar 05, 2026 after therapy with Joel for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, sleeping disorders, anger management, and coping with life changes
Joel is very personable and easy to relate and talk to
Written on Oct 22, 2025 after therapy with Joel for 1 year and 7 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, and grief
I've worked with Joel for 15 months and can honestly say he has been a huge positive infuence on my life over the past year or so. His kindness and genuinity stands out and makes him very easy to trust. His listening skills are of such a high level as he knows exactly when to interviene, when to hold back and simply listen and also when to return to points in a conversation at the right moment. He lives by example and has shown this through his understanding of my struggles and can offer wisdom through his own experiences to help with guidance and support. I'm proud of the work that I've been able to do with Joel and would highly recommend him to anyone who is keen to make real progression in understanding their mental health and prepared to work on intergrating that understanding with their lifestyle.
Written on Jan 27, 2025 after therapy with Joel for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, and self esteem
Great therapist, very knowledgeable empathetic and understanding
Written on Jan 25, 2025 after therapy with Joel for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, and grief
I first started therapy a little over a year ago, I was shy and kept quite about my issues and buried them as to not feel like a burden. It didn't take me to long to become comfortable talking to Joel about my issues which is unusual for me and I have had a huge change in my confidence and my self esteem thanks to Joel he made me realise that my feelings and opinions matter and taught me how to make my voice heard when I felt silenced and trapped.
Written on Dec 02, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 1 year and 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, self esteem, and anger management
Joel is an amazing therapist. He is patient, empowering, kind and he breaks complex things down in a way for me to understand deeply. He has helped me learn so much about myself, and also helped me navigate the most challenging circumstances in my life. We have a lot to work through and I will keep working with Joel for the foreseeable. Thank you Joel, you may never know truly how much you have helped me help myself.
Written on Oct 08, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
My sessions with Joel have been truly inspiring. He’s a wonderful partner for this work and I always feel leaving better than I did before. Couldn’t recommend him enough.
Written on Aug 01, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 3 months on issues concerning relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
I didn't believe in Therapy, until I met Joel - he understands me and helps me reflect on how I'm feeling. He really cares, and is a great listener. I look forward to our calls and healing.
Written on Jul 26, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 1 year and 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, and adhd
I feel that Joel is really supportive and empathetic to problems concerning my anxiety and has encouraged me to put myself first.
Written on Jul 01, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and self esteem
Joel has been instrumental in helping me manage my emotions after a heartbreaking breakup and avoid slipping into depression. From our first session, his exceptional listening skills and thoughtful questions made me feel understood and supported. Joel's empathetic and practical approach provided me with the tools to navigate my conflicting emotions and find peace.
He created a non-judgmental environment that allowed me to open up and express my vulnerabilities. Thanks to his guidance, I have made significant progress and feel more at peace with myself. I highly recommend Joel to anyone seeking a compassionate and effective therapist.
Written on May 31, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and relationship issues
Joel is great. I was connected with him during a time in my life where proper guidance was crucial. He helped me through the major changes I was experiencing in a way I could not have done myself. The guidance he gave me was invaluable.
I am choosing to explore other therapists through BetterHelp not because of anything Joel did or did not do. I am choosing to seek out other therapists purely for selfish reasons of wanting to explore what else is out there.
Written on Mar 07, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 8 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Joel is a fantastic therapist who is empathetic and professional in his approach towards clients. He really helps to understand client’s thoughts and feelings and provides practical solutions to the relevant issues.
Written on Mar 04, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Gentle, kind, understanding and supportive. Really enjoyed our sessions together and feeling much better because of them.
Written on Feb 07, 2024 after therapy with Joel for 3 months on issues concerning self esteem, career difficulties, and coaching
Joel is not only an amazing listener, but also asks really helpful questions for me to reflect on. He really tries to understand more about my situation and helps me delve deeper into the emotions and anxieties I've felt in the past/present. He is the therapist I have been looking for and I feel very lucky that I found him!
Written on Dec 12, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 1 month on issues concerning trauma and abuse, grief, parenting issues, self esteem, and bipolar disorder
Very easy to talk to
Written on Nov 04, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and compassion fatigue
After just a few sessions, it's abundantly clear that Joel is not only immensely likable on a personal level, but he also demonstrates a sincere interest in his patients. He listens attentively and provides not only guidance but also a range of practical tools and techniques to facilitate self-improvement. My experience with Joel's counseling has been overwhelmingly positive thus far.
Written on Oct 18, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, parenting issues, and self esteem
Great guy, therapist and person to have in your corner
Written on Aug 30, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, and adhd
Joel is a great listener, very empathetic ! I'm super comfortable talking to him in whatever things that cross my minds though sometimes it doesn't make sense at all! I feel safe when I talk to him! I love his big laugh!!!!
Written on Aug 04, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 3 months on issues concerning relationship issues, parenting issues, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
Even though we’ve only had 3 or 4, my sessions with Joel have quickly become a staple of my week. There is an ease to our conversations and a short hand which I am very grateful for. Joel is a great listener, who chooses his moments to ask thoughtful, well constructed questions that not only tackle the subject at hand but also allows room for further discovery.
Very happy with the work we’ve done so far and look forward to more sessions in the future
Written on Jul 31, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 1 month on issues concerning depression, addictions, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
Joel has been very helpful to me . I am starting to see everything in a positive way.
Thank you Joel
Written on Jul 19, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, anger management, and coping with life changes
As a young male new to parenting and challenging workplace dynamics. Joel has helped me navigate through emotions and is guiding me as a mentor who I’d recommend to anyone. I’ve found therapy to be a great debrief from the week and a great tool to learn more about yourself.
Written on Jul 14, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, and coping with life changes
I’ve had multiple sessions with therapists before outside of BetterHelp, and I’ve never encountered someone like Joel.
What makes Joel different is how empathetic he is, his active listening skills, giving me certain methods to heal and forgive, and how he helps me shift and widen my perspectives to more positive ones.
And most importantly I felt how committed he is to helping others and that made me feel comfortable to share thoughts I never shared before.
Written on Apr 15, 2023 after therapy with Joel for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and career difficulties
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