International Women's Day - Meet Jo Scavuzzo-Ramsey

I’m Jo, founder of Fresh Minds Therapy a counselling practice based in Banbury offering in-person and online therapy. I work primarily with adults navigating overwhelm, trauma, identity shifts, neurodivergence, and major life transitions, particularly women who have spent years putting themselves last. My work is grounded in warmth, honesty, and the belief that people aren’t broken; they’re responding to what they’ve lived through. 

My business journey wasn’t a straight line. I originally studied psychology in my twenties but had to step away for financial and personal reasons. Like many women, I built a life around supporting others, raising three children, navigating divorce, and working in roles that paid the bills but didn’t fully light me up. It wasn’t until later in life, after a series of personal challenges and a growing sense that something had to change, that I returned to psychology and retrained as a counsellor. 

The inspiration to start my own practice came from lived experience as much as professional training. I’m neurodivergent, I’ve navigated early perimenopause following surgery, and I’ve had to fight to be heard by systems that weren’t built with women like me in mind. Alongside this, my children are neurodivergent too, and I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when people are met with understanding rather than judgment. There wasn’t one single defining moment, but rather a growing certainty that I wanted to work in a way that was human, ethical, and deeply relational. 

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in business has been confidence, particularly stepping into visibility. Counselling is an unregulated profession, which makes integrity and accountability even more important, but it can also feel daunting to put yourself out there. Imposter syndrome has definitely shown up along the way, especially as a woman retraining later in life. I work through it by staying connected to my values, seeking good supervision, and reminding myself that competence isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being reflective, ethical, and willing to keep learning. 

The achievement I’m most proud of isn’t a single milestone, but the fact that I’m building a practice that feels aligned. I’m proud of creating a space where clients feel safe enough to be honest, and of setting up a business that reflects who I am: compassionate, non-judgemental, and socially aware. Success, for me, used to mean external markers such as qualifications, income, or stability. Now it looks more like sustainability, balance, and knowing that my work genuinely helps people. 

The values that guide my work are empathy, justice, transparency, and respect for lived experience. I lead with warmth rather than hierarchy, and I see therapy as a collaborative process rather than something “done” to someone. I also value working collaboratively rather than in isolation. Sharing a space with Kelly from KJC Counselling, whom I trained alongside and have become friends with, has been a reminder that this work doesn’t have to be done alone. We can support one another as practitioners while still offering clients our own distinct approaches and identities. 

Representation and visibility of women in business matter deeply to me. When women see other women building businesses in ways that don’t require burnout, perfection, or fitting into narrow moulds, it opens up new possibilities. Visibility helps challenge the idea that there’s only one “right” way to succeed. 

If I could offer advice to women just starting, it would be this: go gently with yourself. You don’t have to have it all figured out, and you don’t have to do it the way everyone else does. One lesson I wish I’d learned earlier is that rest isn’t a reward, it’s part of the work. The habits that have supported me most are reflection, asking for help, and staying connected to why I do what I do. 

Looking ahead, I’m excited about continuing to grow Fresh Minds Therapy in a values-led way. That includes ongoing professional development, collaborative and community-based work, and widening access to psychological support. Over the next few years, my focus is on building something sustainable for my clients and for myself. 

Outside of work, balance is still a work in progress. I’m a mum first, and family keeps me grounded. On tougher days, I’m motivated by remembering the clients who’ve trusted me with their stories, and with the knowledge that meaningful change often happens quietly, over time. 

To finish on a lighter note: 

One word that describes my journey: Evolving 
Best piece of advice I’ve received: You don’t need to be fearless,  just willing 
Unusual hobby: Rediscovering my love of writing 
Early mornings or late nights? Late nights, always 

If you would like to find out more, please contact Jo at Fresh Minds Therapy