My Qualifications
MSc in Contemporary Person Centred Psychotherapy and Applications [with a Distinction] – Middlesex University
MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology [with a Distinction] – London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Diploma in Contemporary Person-centred Psychotherapy – Metanoia Institute
Diploma in Person-centred Counselling – Metanoia Institute
UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) Accredited and Registered.
Hi, my name is Jookyoung Kim, a.k.a. Jooky.
I am a highly qualified and professionally experienced psychotherapist, counsellor and psychologist, as well as an academic researcher and published author. I am currently running my own practice in Walthamstow, London E17.
My background
I was born and raised in South Korea and in my 20s, I was a journalist in Seoul. Whilst investigating diverse social issues, I became interested in cultural influences on people’s thoughts and behaviours, which led me to come to London and study Social and Cultural Psychology at LSE. While developing my understanding of cultural influences further, I came to possess desire and passion to help people who experience psychological or emotional distress under such influences. Consequently, instead of continuing a PhD course in Social Psychology, I changed my career path and undertook 5 years of training as a Person-centred psychotherapist.
I hope this story will provide some insight into my strong determination and motivation to become a therapist. Indeed, such passionate motivation has empowered me to do my best to attentively help and support my clients to achieve their therapeutic goals.
My experience as a psychotherapist and counsellor
I have worked as a therapist in varying organisations such as the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) service in NHS, community mental health services, private counselling services, a counselling research centre, etc. These various professional experiences equipped me with skills in counselling clients for both the short-term and long-term periods, which has assisted me in working with my private clients confidently in both the time-limited and open-ended settings.
I have helped and supported countless clients concerning a wide range of issues: e.g. depression; anxiety; bereavement and loss; abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, etc.) and trauma; family issues; relationship issues (marriage, separation, divorce, etc.); pregnancy or miscarriage; parenting issues; identity; gender or sexuality; low self-esteem or confidence; self-hatred; guilt and shame; eating disorder or body dysmorphia; stress and life crisis; self-harm and suicidal ideation; racism; cultural adjustment issues, etc.
I have worked with clients from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. In fact, most of my clients have been different from myself culturally or ethnically – was this ever a problem in working with the clients? Never! I have an abundant understanding of diverse cultures that was developed through my life experience (I have lived in Korea, the USA, France and now, the UK) and my career as an international journalist, as well as through my achievement of an MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology. More importantly, as a Person-centred therapist, I try my best to accept and understand all of my clients non-judgmentally; hence, any difference (e.g. culture, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, etc.) between myself and my clients has never been a problem to my therapeutic work with them.
© 2020 Jookyoung Kim all rights reserved
Jooky Therapy 