Good Enough Counsellors

What happens when someone receives a genetic diagnosis? In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I'm joined by Uruj Anjum of Saina Therapy.
Before training as a psychotherapist, Uruj spent nine years working within NHS genetics services, supporting individuals and families navigating conditions such as Huntington's disease and other complex inherited disorders. She now specialises in working with clients affected by genetic diagnoses, reproductive decision-making, grief, loss and family dynamics.
We talk about what therapists need to know when supporting clients living with genetic uncertainty, and how genetics may be lying behind presenting issues such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties and identity struggles.
Takeaways:
The emotional impact of genetic diagnosis on individuals, couples and families
Anticipatory grief and living with uncertainty
Carrier guilt and the complex emotions that can follow a diagnosis
How attachment patterns can influence the way people respond to genetic testing and diagnosis
The impact of inherited conditions on relationships and family dynamics
Reproductive decision-making and termination for medical reasons
Supporting clients affected by genetic conditions in the therapy room
How therapists can work confidently with clients affected by genetic diagnoses without needing specialist medical expertise

You can connect with Uruj via her website saiynatherapy.co.uk and on instagram @saiynatherapy
Looking for Support with Your Private Practice?
If listening to Uruj's story has got you thinking about your own niche, your marketing or how to attract more of the right clients, I'd love to help.
I run workshops, training and coaching for counsellors in private practice, helping you communicate clearly with potential clients and build a practice that works for you.
Find out more here: josephinehughes.com
Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE
Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE
You can also find me here:
The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group
Josephine Hughes on Facebook
Josephine Hughes on YouTube
My website: josephinehughes.com
Keywords: genetic counselling, therapy for genetic conditions, mental health and genetics, emotional impact of genetic diagnoses, family dynamics in genetic counselling, genetic testing and therapy, attachment theory and genetics, anticipatory grief in genetic conditions, supporting clients with genetic diagnoses, carrier guilt in genetics, navigating genetic testing decisions, anxiety and genetic diagnoses, therapeutic approaches to genetic issues, stigma around genetic conditions, building confidence in genetic counselling.
The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.
Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

It’s tempting to look at other therapists, coaches or creators and think:
“It’s easier for them because they’re bigger.”
But what we often forget is that every established business once started small.
In this solo episode, I reflect on the early days of my own private practice and Therapy Growth Group as we approach its sixth birthday. I talk about fear, comparison, visibility and the courage it takes to keep showing up when you’re still finding your feet.
Because behind every “overnight success” are usually years of small steps, awkward beginnings and learning as you go.
I also explore why helping just one person still matters, why growth can actually be easier to manage when it happens gradually, and how success often looks very different from what we imagine.
Whether you’re just starting out in private practice or feeling discouraged because your audience, client list or confidence still feels small, I hope this episode encourages you to keep going.
In this episode:
Why comparing yourself to more established therapists can stop you taking action
What people don’t see behind business growth
The importance of courage over confidence
Why helping one person still counts
How consistency builds confidence over time
Why starting small can actually help you grow sustainably
The ripple effects that can happen when you keep going

I also share:
The story behind starting Therapy Growth Group
What six years in business has taught me
Why I still feel fear even now

Training mentioned in this episode:
Five Ways to Attract New Clients
Exploring Your Niche
Ask Me Anything

You can find details of all current training here:
https://josephinehughes.as.me/training
If this episode encouraged you, I’d love it if you shared it with another therapist who needs reminding that starting small still counts.
Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE
Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE
You can also find me here:
The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group
Josephine Hughes on Facebook
Josephine Hughes on YouTube
My website: josephinehughes.com
Keywords: private practice growth, starting a counselling business, success in therapy practice, building confidence as a therapist, therapy marketing strategies, finding your niche in therapy, private practice challenges, therapist training and development, encouraging small businesses, client attraction strategies, therapy visibility, successful counselling practices
The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.
Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this episode, I'm joined by Annie Jones from Rayleigh Marketing to talk about why Facebook is a useful tool to promote your private practice.
We explore how local Facebook groups, recommendations, consistency, and good quality content can help therapists become more visible without needing to post every day or share your entire personal life online.
In this episode:
why Facebook still works for local businesses
the importance of recommendations and local groups
how often you really need to post
planning content without burning out
why consistency matters more than quantity
ideas for therapists who dislike having their photo taken
simple ways to make posts more engaging
mistakes small businesses often make on social media
Facebook ads, hashtags, keywords, and location tags
how to stay visible without becoming overwhelmed

You can connect with Annie on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE and find out more about her club HERE
For more information about Josephine's training courses, please click here: https://josephinehughes.as.me/training
Social Media Ideas for June 2026:
Pride Month and Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Awareness Month
7th: Tourettes Awareness
8th: Carers Week
15th Loneliness Awareness Week (listen to ep 64 on using AI for social media for a deep dive into ideas)
18th: Autistic Pride
27th: PTSD Awareness
Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE
Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE
You can also find me here:
The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group
Josephine Hughes on Facebook
Josephine Hughes on YouTube
My website: josephinehughes.com
Keywords: Facebook for small businesses, recommendations on Facebook, social media tips for therapists, local Facebook groups, social media visibility, social media content planning, engagement on Facebook, client recommendations, Facebook advertising for therapists, marketing for private practice, Facebook engagement techniques
The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.
Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

What if you don't have to be “good at art” to work creatively as a therapist?
In this week’s episode of the Good Enough Counsellors podcast, I’m joined by counsellor, developer and all-round creative thinker Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar to talk about using creativity in therapy sessions, both online and face to face.
Yasmin is one of those people who is always creating ideas, tools and resources, and we explore how her neurodivergence, technical background and passion for emotional regulation have shaped the way she works with clients.
We talk about:
why many therapists don’t think of themselves as creative
how creative approaches can help clients express themselves differently
using creative tools in online sessions without it feeling clunky or awkward
emotional regulation, rejection sensitivity and neurodivergence
the fear therapists often have around visibility and being judged
how creativity can make psycho-education feel more accessible and engaging
why playful doesn’t have to mean childish
and why some ideas need time to develop and “simmer”

Yasmin also shares some of the interactive resources she’s developed for therapists and clients, including her “Sandwich of Capacity” tool inspired by the Window of Tolerance.
You can find out more about Yasmin and use her resources HERE
And if you’d like support growing your own private practice, you can find out more about my webinars and training HERE
Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE
Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE
You can also find me here:
The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group
Josephine Hughes on Facebook
Josephine Hughes on YouTube
My website: josephinehughes.com
Keywords: creativity in therapy, neurodivergent counselling techniques, creative tools for therapists, online therapy resources, therapy techniques for neurodivergent clients, integrating creativity in sessions, therapist visibility and marketing, building a creative practice, resources for therapists, psychological tools for emotional regulation, playful therapy activities, using art in counseling, overcoming therapist self-doubt
The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.
Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Why isn’t your therapy profile getting enquiries?
If you’ve listed yourself on directories such as Psychology Today, Counselling Directory or BACP Find a Therapist and you’re hearing very little back, this episode will help you think about what your clients need to hear in order to feel able to choose you.
In today's episode:
the power of a good profile and how it helps your private practice
why talking about your modality doesn't help
the importance of taking reading age into consideration
avoiding technical language and industry jargon
what frightens clients away
qualifications versus connection and relatability
understanding client search behaviour

Already listed on a directory and it’s not bringing enquiries? Come along to my webinar on what might be missing and how to make what you're already doing more effective. Click HERE to learn more
Click HERE to learn more about Therapy Growth Group. The next Make Your Profile Work challenge takes place in June 2026.
This is a re-issue of Episode 14: Ditch the Jargon
Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE
Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE
You can also find me here:
The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group
Josephine Hughes on Facebook
Josephine Hughes on YouTube
My website: josephinehughes.com
Keywords: counsellor, psychotherapist, private practice marketing, therapy directory, psychology today, counselling directory, therapy profile
The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.
Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.