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Consultancy services for education providers
About Us
At The Well-Minded Practice, we have been privileged to collaborate with inspiring colleagues on a range of psycho-educational projects, all aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for students and staff in higher education.
As a multidisciplinary consultancy, we offer the flexibility to tailor our approach to the specific needs of your institution. Whether it’s delivering training, developing wellbeing initiatives, or supporting student mental health strategies, we work collaboratively to create practical, evidence-based solutions that make a real difference.
Joanna is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an award assessor for the University Mental Health Charter, and is deeply committed to excellence in teaching and learning support. Her focus is on transforming the academic experience for all students, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background.
“Across the UK, there is growing focus on the need for strategic whole-university approaches to support student mental health”
– Rosie Tressler, CEO of Student Minds
Our Services
Staff Training for Mental Health
We develop bespoke mental health training tailored to all staff across the university community. Drawing on evidence and best practice from research, our training is designed to be specific and relevant to each role, including:
- Estates staff
- First responders
- Professional services staff
- Student Union teams
- Halls of residence staff
- Academic staff
- Senior management
Psychoeducation
Our goal is to enhance students’ wellbeing and academic performance. We deliver training and facilitate workshops on topics such as the links between learning, emotions, and wellbeing. Participants gain practical guidance and proven techniques to reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and reinvigorate their love of learning.
Mediation
Disputes can become stressful, costly, and distracting if left unresolved. Our mediation service helps resolve conflicts quickly and collaboratively, without the need for formal procedures. We focus on listening, compromise, and finding solutions that work for everyone involved.
Supervision, Mentoring & Coaching
We offer mentoring, coaching, and supervision for professionals working in higher education. Sessions can be one-to-one or in groups, delivered online, in person at our practice, or on-site by request. We can arrange supervision regularly, occasionally, or on an ad hoc basis, tailored to individual or team needs.
Clinical Governance Consultancy
High standards of clinical governance are essential for safeguarding students, supporting staff, and meeting regulatory requirements. We provide expert consultancy to help universities strengthen policies, procedures, and professional standards, aligning with sector best practices and University Mental Health Charter principles.
Developing Bespoke Mental Health Training Relevant to Staff Roles
As part of the Advance HE Small Development Projects 2019, focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of students, we developed a short film demonstrating the impact of a bespoke mental health staff training programme. Find out more: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/reports-publications-and-resources/small-development-projects/2019/University-of-Derby
Education for Mental Health: enhancing student mental health through curriculum and pedagogy
Developed as a partnership between the University of Derby, King’s College London, Aston University, Student Minds and Advance HE, and funded by the Office for Students via a Challenge Competition, this toolkit provides evidence informed guidance on the ways in which curriculum can support both wellbeing and learning. Find out more: www.advance-he.ac.uk/teaching-and-learning/curricula-development/education-mental-health-toolkit
Organisations we have collaborated with
University of Derby
Leeds Beckett University
Edge Hill University
Leeds Trinity University
Birmingham City University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Student Minds
Advance HE
Human Givens College
Prior Park College
Thomas Russell Junior School
John Taylor Multi Academy Trust
Ellesmere College
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
North Midland Theatrical NATD
Testimonials
"I have contracted Jo to lead and deliver the psycho-education programme at the University of Derby for the last 6 academic years. Jo has that very valuable and rare ability to instantly develop rapport and create a safe and dynamic learning environment. She also happens to be a highly effective teacher and therapist."
Jo Jones
Assistant Registrar
Student Services Manager, University of Derby
"Jo is a highly skilled therapist and educator. I have watched Jo's impressive ability to engage a range of audiences in education settings. And a number of people who have received counselling support from Jo have told me how helpful and effective she has been."
Gavin Jinks SFHEA
Senior Lecturer, University of Derby
"I have had the pleasure of working with Joanna on our staff induction and other staff development requirements. Joanna is one of the most passionate colleagues I have worked with. She is super helpful and always responds with great insight and workable solutions."
Bev Millinchip
Organisational Development Manager
University of Derby
"Jo is a nationally recognised expert in student wellbeing and psycho-education, as has been evidenced by her work for Student Minds, the Human Givens College and consulting for universities and HE projects beyond the University of Derby. Jo has contributed to sector understanding of how teaching and learning can support student and staff mental health. This can be seen in her production of a video sharing best practice for Advance HE and the national recognition the work of the Psycho-education Team has received. She has been active across the education sector, delivering training to schools and universities and providing content for national resources, such as the Student Space website."
Dr Gareth Hughes PFHEA
Psychotherapist, researcher, lecturer, writer
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working collaboratively with Joanna to better understand the relationship between learning, teaching and student wellbeing. Joanna is an advocate for an institutional approach to embedding student wellbeing rather than seeing it as the responsibility of one department. I have benefitted greatly from Joanna’s expertise in the area of psychoeducation. Joanna’s approach is collaborative, supportive, engaging and challenges people to reevaluate their practice to recognise what supports student wellbeing and student success. I can recommend Joanna for her expertise, approach and as a valued colleague."
Dr Tamsin Bowers-Brown
Head of Social Justice and Pedagogic Practice University of Derby
"Jo is a national leader in her field. She is dynamic in her approach to building projects that are multi-disciplinary, collaborative and inclusive. Jo adds tremendous value in all of the strands of her work. She is highly skilled in her field. She carries a body of knowledge and is able to translate this effectively to her audience and clients. In all of the projects I have worked on with Jo, I have been impressed by her presence and capacity to create positive transformative change."
Dr David Patton SFHEA
Senior Lecturer, University of Derby
Speaker & Author
Life Coach & Interpersonal Conflict Mediator
"Jo's dedication to supporting our students is amazing. She works with us in such an open way; listening and understanding. This leads to considered outputs that really get to the heart of what our Joint Honours students need."
Suzanne Ap-Thomas
Joint Honours Lead
University of Derby
"What's inspirational teaching? For me it means creating a safe learning environment where it's ok to ask questions, make mistakes and not feel stupid. It's being knowledgeable and able to impart that knowledge to others on a level they can understand. It's having an ability to sense the room, know when to push and when to consolidate, when to reassure and when to stretch. It means having a heart, being kind yet firm, clear in expectations, encouraging learning for learnings sake and being consistent and fair. It means giving people belief in what they can do, instilling confidence and making sure students are safe to use the skills beyond the classroom. It means changing lives, beliefs, shifting what you thought you knew and making you challenge yourself and your ideas. It means leaving your students wishing to shout the learning from the roof tops for the world to hear because it's so incredible. I've been so lucky to be on the receiving end of all this all week and just know that being part of this will change lives. Thank you both.
Laura Young
Still Minds Education