About Jo McAndrews
I later worked within a community-based child bereavement service, where I saw clearly that one of the most effective ways to support young people is to educate and support the adults around them.
Since then, my focus has been on training, supporting and facilitating parents and professionals who work with children. I help adults understand how resilience grows, and what can interrupt or undermine it. I work across the fields of social care, health and education, delivering training on trauma and secondary trauma, bereavement, foster care, recovery and resilience, and navigating difficult conversations.
Warm, engaging, welcoming, I hold many years of experience with a light and empathic touch
I originally trained and qualified as an integrative arts psychotherapist. That training gave me a strong foundation in understanding why people struggle, and what helps them thrive, and it has inspired my work ever since. I specialised in working with children and young people, and developed a deep respect for the resilience and complexity of early life.
I am blown away by the research from the field of neurobiology that makes it totally clear how much humans rely on relationships to grow and function every day and throughout life.
I have studied and am fascinated by polyvagal theory, attachment theory, deep ecology, trauma, recovery and resilience, imagination, non violent communication, play and mindfulness. I am delighted to see how they are all integrated into a whole pattern of love and respect for life.
Current neuroscientific research is confirming that the core of human thriving is our relationship with others, with ourselves and with the natural world. Of course, indigenous cultures have always known that but in modern western culture we have largely forgotten. I have developed a practical and usable model of resilience that acts as a map for the way forward
There is so much information available now that shows that childhood is the time to build deep and lasting resilience in our whole culture. I am dedicated to sharing this information in warm, compassionate and inspiring ways.
I work with an engaged, systemic approach, recognising that we are all shaped by the context of the world around us and the relationship networks we are part of. I see that our systems of economics and power do not meet our human needs and the needs of the planet, and that this is causing huge suffering.
Climate change and social crises are making it urgent that we rethink how we live and how we face adversity together with resourcefulness and creativity.
I work with a trauma-informed model of coresilience that shows the way to work together for personal and social wellbeing and effective action.
I offer a variety of training courses, talks, and trainings, as well as 1-1 sessions for both parents and carers and professionals. Use the buttons below to find out more about these offerings.
Get in touch
If you would like to speak with Jo about any of her offerings, courses, talks, or trainings, please do use this form to get in touch.