Joy Zheng

Joy Zheng is a fully qualified integrative counsellor for individuals and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works in private practice at The Awareness Centre in Clapham. Joy is also currently undertaking postgraduate training in couples/relationship psychotherapy and is a student member of the professional body for Psychosexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT).

Individual Therapy:

Through her work with NHS Talking Therapies, Joy has supported clients facing a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, unresolved childhood trauma, attachment difficulties, low self-esteem, people-pleasing tendencies, rumination, overthinking, self-sabotage, emotional numbness and dysregulation, fear of abandonment or commitment, guilt and shame, work-related stress, grief and bereavement, life transitions, lack of motivation, and managing symptoms of ADHD.

With a foundation in person-centred, Joy creates a warm, non-judgmental space where clients can explore difficult thoughts, emotions, and unresolved issues. She supports individuals in reconnecting with their values, building self-worth, and clarifying their beliefs—empowering them to move forward with confidence and a stronger sense of identity.

Drawing on psychodynamic principles, she also helps clients explore unconscious processes and behavioural patterns that may be influencing their present experiences. By making sense of how past experiences influence the present, Joy supports clients in developing better self-awareness and creating space for meaningful change.

Couples Therapy:

For couples, Joy creates a safe and supportive space where both partners can feel heard and respected. She incorporates attachment theory to help explore how early relational experiences, attachment styles, unconscious beliefs, and past patterns may be influencing current interactions.

Through this process, couples begin to identify the sources of distress, understand how they relate to one another, and explore the changes they both want to make. Joy works collaboratively with them to break old patterns, develop healthier ways of communicating, deepen emotional connection, and build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship.

Originally from Shanghai, China, Joy has been living in London for over 15 years. Having personally experienced the emotional challenges of cultural transition and separation, she brings a deep, compassionate understanding to her work with individuals and couples navigating loss, change, and identity. Her lived experience allows her to sensitively support clients facing cross-cultural relationship dynamics, and challenges around belonging and adaptation. Joy values and embraces differences and diversity, and she is committed to creating an inclusive space where clients of all backgrounds feel respected, understood, and empowered.