Supporting Families Through Separation

Hi, I am Joanne Sims of Joanne Sims Wellbeing.  I am a person-centred counselling and holistic coach based in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.  What does that mean, and what do I do?  Well, hopefully, the information I set out below will provide an insight into this.

I’ve always been drawn to the moments that matter most, those times when people are facing uncertainty, stress, or life-changing decisions. Over more than ten years as a registered mental health nurse, I’ve worked across a wide variety of settings, statutory and non-statutory, supporting people through some really challenging situations.

Following nursing, moving into counselling and coaching felt like a natural next step. It allowed a combination of my clinical experience with a person-centred, practical approach, helping people find clarity, confidence, and resilience in difficult times, whether they’re clients, families, or professionals.

This is important. After all, real change and healing, especially after significant life events, don’t occur because someone is told something; it happens when people feel supported, seen, and empowered.

Over the years of working with families, individuals, and children where separation and divorce have been really tough and there’s been little or no collaboration between parents, I’ve seen how stress and tension can ripple through the whole family, affecting not just the parents, but the children and even the wider family.

It’s experiences like these that drew me to the concept of collaborative law and using my skills in this area. I’m passionate about creating spaces that ease people’s pain, support their healing, and help families find a new way of moving forward.

When parents commit to collaborating, even after difficult separations, it’s incredible to see the positive impact on the children and on the whole family dynamic, not just in the early days but in the time to come.

When families are supported to collaborate, children thrive, and parents can begin to heal and move forward together.

How I Work

My approach is relational and grounded in warmth, curiosity, and respect. I offer a safe, non-judgmental space where people can explore what’s going on for them, understand their reactions, and build practical strategies to manage stress, conflict, and difficult conversations.

Whether it’s helping parents communicate more effectively, guiding co-parenting arrangements, or supporting someone individually, the focus is always on clarity, understanding, and empowerment.

Why I like this approach

It allows me to bring my experience, empathy, and practical skills to support families navigating emotionally charged situations. I provide a calm, objective presence, helping parents talk through challenges and make decisions with confidence.

The most rewarding moments are the subtle ones: tension softening, conflict turning into collaboration, and parents discovering new ways of working together, for the benefit of their children and their own wellbeing.

It’s a privilege to see families find clarity, understanding, and a new way forward together.

Supporting Teams and Staff

Alongside client work, I also support professionals and their teams. I know that supporting staff often work under pressure, with complex personalities and challenging situations.

Providing training and guidance to help them manage stress, maintain well-being, and handle difficult interactions with confidence is really rewarding. This includes practical strategies for dealing with personalities, managing conflict, and prioritising self-care. By supporting and training others helps to empower people and create environments where everyone, clients, colleagues, and the team can thrive.

Equipping professionals with practical tools for resilience and wellbeing benefits everyone: clients, families, and the teams themselves. Helping families and professionals move through change with clarity, compassion, and confidence is what drives me every day.

Why This Work Matters

It allows me to combine my nursing background, counselling experience, and coaching skills to support families, clients, and professionals alike.

I’m not just helping to resolve disputes, I’m helping people find understanding, promote wellbeing, and navigate difficult transitions in a way that benefits everyone involved. Every parent, child, and professional deserves to feel supported, seen, and empowered, and that’s what I bring to every interaction.