Joanna Bienkowska

• Stress and anxiety
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Grief and loss

About Joanna

Joanna Bienkowska helps people with stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, sleep problems, depression, addictions and other common life difficulties using conversation-based work and practical strategies. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in her sessions and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has three years of professional and placement experience in the UK.

Joanna keeps sessions focused on what the person wants to change. She will talk through patterns of thought and behaviour, and offer straightforward techniques to try between meetings. Sessions include work on managing mood, coping with life changes, and improving communication around close relationships.

She also supports people dealing with issues such as body image, attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and intimacy-related problems. Practical problem-solving and behaviour experiments are used alongside reflective conversation to help people test different ways of responding.

Joanna offers help with anger, impulsivity, low self-esteem, and difficulties around money, career and life purpose. She will work on sleep and routine where these affect daily functioning. Where grief, trauma or past abuse are present, Joanna aims to proceed at a pace the person is comfortable with.

Sessions are carried out in English and Polish. Joanna accepts international clients. She works within the ethical framework of the BACP and draws on three years of clinical experience to inform her approach.

CBT approaches and working online with this counsellor

CBT focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Joanna uses short exercises and thought records to help people identify unhelpful patterns and try new responses, which can help with anxiety, low mood and sleep problems.

Behavioural techniques form a second strand of her approach. These involve setting small, practical steps such as activity scheduling, graded exposure to feared situations, or experiments to test beliefs. These methods often support work on addictions, avoidance and routine-related issues.

Finding the right way of working is part of the process. Joanna will discuss goals and preferences with each person and agree together which methods to try. That collaborative decision-making helps shape the focus and pace of sessions.

Please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. When planning sessions, consider which arrangements help you manage interruptions, time for follow-up tasks, and whether you prefer video or audio contact.

Topics Joanna lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Grief
• Sleeping disorders
• Depression
• Addictions
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Self-esteem
• Career difficulties
• Coping with life changes
• Abandonment
• Attachment issues
• Body image
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Divorce and separation
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Impulsivity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Money and financial issues
• Mood disorders
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Self-love
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Ways of working

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Questions about Joanna

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed among the main concerns she helps people with.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She practises Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), using conversation and practical techniques to address thoughts and behaviours.

How much experience does she have?

She has three years of professional and placement experience in the United Kingdom.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Can I have sessions in Polish?

Yes. Sessions are offered in English and Polish.

How are sessions charged?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start with Joanna?

Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.