1. Tell us a little about your musical life.
I began playing the recorder when I was 5 as my auntie was a primary school music teacher so she got me started before I even went to school! I later learnt the piano and flute, although remained faithful to the recorder into my music degree. I joined the local church choir when I was 9 (to avoid Sunday school!) and then it became my true love, joining the county choir and county youth opera group as a teenager. It was my entire life and I loved it. Subsequently, I completed a music degree and a PGCE in secondary school music, teaching music in a school for two years and then in a young offenders institute – that was an experience! I continued to teach piano and voice privately for the past 30 years.
2. Who is your favourite singer/band/musician etc?
Too tricky to answer! I like pretty much anything from Mozart to Metallica…although technically pre-Mozart is probably my favourite era as a recorder player! I do love Bach. And I love musical theatre. But I also love a banging house dance beat. If I had to choose a band I would have to say Guns ‘n’ Roses. More recently I seem to like anything by Dua Lipa!
3. What is your all-time favourite piece of music? Have you got a favourite, ‘must-listen’ recording?
Just one?! What! No! Here are my playlist most played:
- Defying Gravity from Wicked
- Shostakovich 5th Symphony in its entirety
- Dies Irae from Mozart Requiem
- Lady by Mojo
- Too Many Broken Hearts by Jason Donovan
4. Tell us a bit about your work
I am a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and educator. I have worked with teenagers/parent/schools throughout my various careers and continue to work in education as a therapist. I specialise in body shame, narcissism, ADHD, menopause, self-worth and parenting.
5. What inspired you to go into your current line of work?
Whilst teaching young offenders I realised I was more interested in people’s well-being than I was in whether they got a GCSE. However I realised that music was a great medium for this and initially considered a move into music therapy. It wasn’t quite the right fit for me though so I took a side step into working for the local authority managing teams who work with children and families to ensure they could access education. It became obvious to me how effective counselling skills were in building relationships with young people and breaking through barriers to education, and this is what led me to retrain as a counsellor fifteen years ago.
6. What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love being a safe, gentle catalyst for change for people amidst difficult times in their lives. I love how unconditional validation of my clients and their experiences allows them to become more authentically themselves which in turn facilitates deep exploration of the jumble of thought and emotion inside. I am always amazed how it can bring about such enlightenment and peace and it is honestly such a privilege to be trusted with people’s innermost thoughts and be alongside them in their progress through life.
7. What moment/event/achievement in your work are you most proud of?
I am very proud to have published an article about weight stigma in therapy and to have co-created training on the back of that. I am proud to be introducing this conversation of unconscious bias into the therapy world, and beyond!
8. What do you hope the partnership with Bristol Voice Care will bring singers and professional voice users?
Because of singing being my true love, I am so delighted to combine this with my expertise in body acceptance by being involved with the Bristol Voice Care Network. With the insight I have as a musician and singer, it means we can get right down to how body image intersects with all aspects of using your voice and bring about changes you didn’t know you could make. I am passionate about breaking the generational trauma of body shame and disordered eating so that more folk can benefit from body liberation and experience how that enhances their confidence, self-worth and, ultimately, their success in teaching and performing.
You can work with Jo 1:1 in therapy, via body empowerment coaching, or by attending on of her courses on anti-fat bias. find out more at JoReader.com
