Jo Hargreaves is a psychotherapist, pastor, writer, and speaker who integrates theology and therapy, submitting neuroscience to the authority of scripture.

Her work points people to Jesus Christ, the lover of our souls and the lifter of our heads, while helping them understand their God-designed brains so they can pursue emotional and spiritual wholeness.

As the founder of Faith Filled Therapy and host of The Faith Filled Therapy Podcast, Jo creates spaces where neuroscience and scripture meet, offering practical insight into mental health, identity, and spiritual formation.

Find out more

This is what renewing your mind looks like.

Neurons are constantly forming new connections, tiny, living parables of transformation.

When one neuron reaches out its axon toward another’s dendrites, a synapse forms.

Signals pass through neurotransmitters crossing that small, sacred space between them. With each signal, the connection strengthens or quiets, reshapes or reforms.

Exactly how God designed it.

This dynamic process of neuroplasticity, is the brain’s built-in capacity to be changed through repetition, attention, and experience.
It’s the biological expression of Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Renewal isn’t abstract. It’s embodied. As we immerse ourselves in truth, prayer, worship, and new patterns of life, our brains literally rewire. Old pathways weaken and (thank you God) new ones take shape. The mind is renewed not just spiritually but structurally, amazing grace working its way into biology.

❤️➕🧠

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
❤️➕🧠

*Romans 8:38

Welcome to my Monday morning…
Messy hair, skincare, cleaning windows, sorting school uniforms and life admin.
And yet, even in the mundane, we can meditate and include scripture into our day.

In Hebrew, the word hagah means to meditate, to turn something over in your mind. The brilliant and beautiful news is this: if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate. If you can ruminate on your own thoughts, you can ruminate on God’s Word.

You don’t need a super-spiritual moment to do it, something silent and sacred at the end of the day. You can weave meditation into the ordinary rhythms of your everyday ordinary life.

Lord teach me to meditate on your word.
I’ve been churching over psalm 23 v6 over the last few months and today I’m in Romans 8 38.

It’s a beautiful way to shape your spirit, soul and synapses ❤️➕🧠

What verse are you in? 👇

⸻

❤️➕🧠
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Psalm 23:3 – “He restores my soul; He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Oh I’ve had such a great time with @jjohnglobal and Killy and their incredible, generous and warm team today.

So many brilliant join the dot moments including talking about my fab friend who took me to church as a student-she taught me two things as a new Christian in her uni house-all about Delirious (I had zero idea that Christian music was even a genre) and about the mark of the beast in the book of Revelation…🤣

Well this friend and the first evangelist in my life (20 years ago) turns out to be @jjohnglobal God Daughter!
@libbyread I LOVE YOU!
God is an incredible redeemer and networker!
❤️➕🧠

Blessed are you,
still one,
when everything in you goes quiet,
when numbness takes over and the world feels far away.
When shutting down is the only way to stay safe,
and even your own heart feels out of reach.

May the gentle nearness of God meet you in the disconnect.
May His warmth begin to thaw what has gone cold.
Would you feel no shame for the stillnes, only compassion for what you’ve carried.
May your body remember how to come back, one breath at a time.
You are not broken. You are beloved, even here.

❤️➕🧠

A very precious birthday week #44

➕I’m raising my boys to capture moments and I hope their future wives thank me for it 📸
➕My world
➕Seeing my husband raise my daughter is all kinds of redemption in motion. Healing.
➕Birthday pie and cake with incredible friends @s.t.palmer @r.j.palmer
➕Pie. The way to my heart. 🐄
➕Birthday brunch with my side running sister @joyblundell grateful everyday that we get to lead church together.
➕Baking. Equal parts magical and stressful.
➕Getting to hang out with @shirleyjam what a woman.
➕’Alexa play @philippahanna’ is an everyday thing in my household. Incredible.
➕Work in progress.
➕Always with the eye patches and the peppermint tea 🫖

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
❤️➕🧠

I thank God ❤️

➕Speaking at @theorchardwomenyouth with my wonderful friends precious daughters in the background @hannah.haigh
➕Road Trippers
➕Bumping into my wonderful sister in law/love
➕Besties
➕I LOVE this woman. Such a joy to bump into you whilst worshiping Jesus 🙌
➕ @theorchardwomen meeting incredible women and hearing their stories
➕Precious friends for 20+ years though missed you @libbyread @j_isonstierer
➕Lunch in London reliving our yoooooof
➕The wonderful @remhughes78 doing her incredible thing
➕Gen Z inspiring me in their wild worship of the King of Kings 👑
➕My incredible niece whom I love with all my heart

❤️➕🧠

Christian’s who have been to/going to therapy-what’s your advice to those who are thinking about it ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Blessed are you,
pilgrim in motion. When the urge to escape feels like the only safety.
When your heart races and all you want is to run.

May the Spirit meet you in motion and slow you with kindness.
May you find refuge not in running, but in being gently held.

May the ground feel steady again, and your soul remember it’s not alone, even David had to learn that He could neither run nor hide from the presence.

Would you find refuge in being still, in breathing your breath and lifting your gaze. Let the stillness be your sanctuary.

❤️➕🧠

Blessed are you,
child of thunder. When anger burns hot and your body bristles with fight.
When your spirit whirs within you, and you build your defences-
one sharp word, one clenched jaw, one raised boundary at a time.

May you know the kindness of God and the vastness of grace,
even in what feel like your worst moments.
May you be anchored in belovedness-your whole being wrapped in peace.

May the Spirit gently disarm what no longer serves you.
The One who made you can handle your fire.
His love does not retreat

❤️➕🧠

The Apostle Paul…way ahead of the neuroscience 😉
❤️➕🧠

Lord help us to turn our eyes from ourselves and from the empty things that so easily distract us, so we can instead fix our eyes on you;
the lover of our soul and lifter of our heads.

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Here’s my take as a psychotherapist, Bible teacher and follower of Christ.

We’ve had so many models of mental health care over the years, the medical model, the biopsychosocial model, and more. Each one offers insight, each one helps us see a piece of the puzzle.

But none of them can give the whole picture.

Because the deepest insight comes not from human theories, but from the One who created us. The God who dreamed us up. The One who knit our brains together. The One who wired our vagus nerve and every firing synapse.

He doesn’t just see what we present on the outside. He sees the state of our nervous system. He sees the thought loops we get stuck in. He sees the body and the soul together, and He understands us fully. You make complete sense to God.
Every model can offer perspective. But only the Creator can bring wholeness and healing spirit, soul and body.

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“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
❤️➕🧠

May you know God’s abounding love, which is high and wide and deep and long.

Would the power of that love impact your body, soul and spirit, shifting your state at a neurobiological level.

As you meditate on how loved you are may it wire your brain towards healthier and holier ways of being and seeing.

❤️➕🧠

I am so delighted to partner with @thechristianpostercompany on this incredibly beautiful print.

Nick at The Christian Poster Company has beautifully designed this Holy and Whole poster, inspired by 1 Thessalonians 5:23, a verse that I return to again and again in my work.
I have mine hanging above my desk as a reminder of the redemptive work of Christ in every area of my being.

If you’d love one too Nick @thechristianpostercompany and I have both a 20% discount code AND one to give away.

➕Follow @thechristianpostercompany & @thefaithfilledtherapist

➕Share this post in your stories and be sure to tag us @thechristianpostercompany @thefaithfilledtherapist

➕Below nominate and @ a friend who you would love to gift this to and why

➕The winner will be announced on October 7th 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

➕If you just want to go and bag one for yourself just comment PRINT and we will ping you the 20% off discount code

❤️➕🧠

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The somatic impact of obedience to scripture. ❤️➕🧠

Neuroscience submitting to scripture is my favourite. ❤️➕🧠

Thanks @thec3_church for a wonderful Sunday with you all. What a beautiful expression of the body of Christ you are.

New episode of The Faith Filled Therapy Podcast is up.

No fancy editing, just a one take wonder.
No fancy office, fancy outfit or high protein breakfast, just me at my desk in my dressing with a curly wurly for breakfast.

However the content is researched, prayer about, studied and practiced both personally and professionally and my deep hope and prayer is that it blesses you.

Comment pod and I’ll send it straight into your DM’s (not personally honestly but via some brilliant app that does it for me 😉)

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Kingdom is coming. Don’t let the secular narrative distract you, discourage you or drag you down to its level.

Take heart.
He has overcome the world.

“So here’s what I want you to do,
God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.

Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Redemption-Renewal-Rewiring.

Thank you Lord.

❤️➕🧠

My 10/10 reads so far this year.

The Good Decision Diary @annamathur
A Year To Slow Down @byrachelbearn
Hope Is The First Dose @drleewarren
Body And Soul @lisawhittle
Rewire Your Brain @chianamaureen
On Earth As In Heaven @ntwrightonline
Mindset Shift @erwinmcmanus
Spiritual Depression Dr Martin Lloyd Jones

10/10 would recommend.

What are you reading? ⬇️
❤️➕🧠

I’m without question a local church gal through and through; have been ever since encountering Jesus in my final year of university.

One of the questions I get asked most is how I balance church ministry with therapy work and honestly in my mind there couldn’t be a better fit.

From the moment I met Jesus, I’ve loved His Church. Not the perfect church (it doesn’t exist), but the healthy church, the kind that worships, prays, forgives, serves, and genuinely loves one another.

I hand on heart believe that
➕We don’t need to reinvent the Church to support mental and emotional health.
➕We just need to be the Church Jesus intended.

Because a healthy church naturally nurtures emotional, relational, and spiritual wholeness. (And also knows when to call in the professionals)
But we don’t need to be on the back foot. We carry something beautiful
a Spirit-filled, Scripture-shaped way of life that brings real hope and healing to the whole person-spirit, soul and body.

Yes, there’s a caveat. I know many have been hurt by church, and that pain is real. But the Church is still God’s chosen vessel for hope and healing in the world. It’s still the Body of Christ.

Lastly…This space isn’t for debating or degrading the Church. ❤️➕🧠

I’m in a theological and therapeutic research rabbit hole about what happens in your God given brain when you meditate on scripture.
It’s building my faith and my love of the word to another level.

I will be sharing about this throughout September but if you’d like the research and the references as well as a ‘just for fun quiz’ (because I grew up in the 90’s) just comment ebook and I will send you the download link in your DM’s.

❤️➕🧠

So looking forward to opening up @awakeneventuk with our all age family service…I LOVE @awakeneventuk and look forward to it every year!
It’s not too late to book in or come along for the day 🙌🙌🙌

Also @danhargreaves1 my love, we look exhausted…when are these kids going back to school…?!!? 😉

Listen I’m not saying that I’ve nailed this or that I find it easy-I wrestle, I struggle, I find myself scrolling.

But one thing I know is that nothing, no thing, has ever reoriented my soul the way that reading the Bible does.
A full Spirit, Soul, Body experience.

❤️➕🧠

By far my most asked question is how to connect with more of the resources I share on my page and really The Faith Filled Collective is it.

I have very few 1:1 spaces so this is a great community for learning (unlearning) and psychoeducation that can work wonderfully along your own journey.

Whether you’re wanting to learn more as a practitioner, or as a faith filled woman in therapy or someone who just wants a regular check in and and a community of likeminded women alongside this could be a great option for you.

Just comment ‘Interested’ and I will send you some more info…zero big sell from me, just an invitation to connect further.

❤️➕🧠

Meditation was God’s idea first.

Somehow along the way, it’s been hijacked and associated only with “new age” practices. But you were literally created for meditation…not to empty your mind to become “one with the universe,” but to fill your mind with the truth of God so you can connect deeply with the One who created the universe, hung the stars and sustains it all with His mighty hand.

This September, I’ll be teaching on what happens in your God-given brain when you meditate on Scripture. It is quite literally mind-blowing. 🧠 ➕ ❤️

I so appreciate how much we can learn about the God-given brain through tools like neuroimaging and SPECT scans.

But more than that I LOVE how the Apostle Paul had a God-given insight over 2000 years previously that we could indeed be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans12:2).

❤️➕🧠

Oh hi! ❤️➕🧠

If you’re new here, curious or just after a reminder of what Faith Filled Therapy is all about, then this is a good place to start.

I’m hand on heart, glad that you’re here.
TYPOS AND ALL 🤦🏼‍♀️

Also…why not say hello below? I’d love to hear where you are based and what part of your own journey brought you to this page?

All photo credits to @londonphotographer_lucywest

Great is the faithfulness…Lord unto me
❤️➕🧠

*Scroll along to about 50 seconds in when I actually figure out what to do 🤣*

So wonderful to speak to Pastor Deji one half of @infinitymarriages and @infinitymarriagesretreat all about 21st century marriage and how covenant is both hard and holy.

Whether you’re getting married, are married and finding it tough, are all in and loving being married or just curious then we’d love you to have a watch back.
You can still ask questions in the comments and Deji and his wonderful wife Sunmi will reply.

@danhargreaves1 and I are booked in to the September @infinitymarriagesretreat and it already feels like a highlight of our year 🙌

Have you realised that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?”
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, on Psalm 42

We don’t always need to let our soul dominate the conversation.
We can start speaking to our soul-our mind, will and emotions using the word of God.

❤️➕🧠

May reading scripture reorient your spirit, your soul and your synapses.
❤️➕🧠

Hands down, one hundred percent, beyond any doubt, my favourite and most precious part of speaking anywhere is the sacred opportunity to speak with and pray for people.

I’m always humbled by the quiet courage it takes to share just a little snippet of something that often holds a big story. Again and again, I hear the same deep themes rise to the surface…

“I feel too much…I feel nothing at all…I am asking questions I never thought I’d ask…Will it feel like this forever…I don’t know where God is in this.“

And every time, I come back to this truth:

God’s love covers it all.

Every ache, every numb place, every question, every story.

High, wide, deep, and long. His love is vast enough for our doubt and our dysregulation.
There is space for our sorrow.
Room for our rage.
A welcome even in our wondering.

Colossians 1:19–20 (The Message)
“So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.
Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe, people and things, animals and atoms, get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.”

Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

❤️➕🧠

🕊️ Job 33:4

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
(ESV)

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@thefaithfilledtherapist

I'm so glad you're here

I’m Jo Hargreaves, a psychotherapist, pastor, writer and speaker. My mission is to help people understand their God-designed brains while pointing them to Jesus Christ, the lover of our souls and the lifter of our heads. By integrating theology and therapy and submitting neuroscience to the authority of scripture I aim to equip people to pursue emotional and spiritual wholeness - spirit, soul and body.

"May God himself, the God of peace, make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

From podcasts to whole-staff training days, eBooks and monthly webinars, I love to create spaces where neuroscience and scripture meet, offering practical insight into mental health, identity, and spiritual formation. My hope is that what you find here encourages you to reflect, grow, and engage with your journey with hope.

About Jo

Upcoming webinars

Book your place on one of Jo's monthly webinars.

Body & Soul
with guest Lisa Whittle

Thursday 20th November 2025
7:30pm

Take a biblical look at your physical, emotional, and spiritual health and foster a deeper understanding of how faith influences our health choices, body image, and life purpose.

Reserve your place

Discovering the Life God Has For You
with guest Hannah Miller

Thursday 11th December 2025
7:30pm

What if there is more to your life than this?

For so many of us, the ever-present list of daily demands can mean we end up settling for a life that looks very different from the one we once imagined. But there is a way to get back on track, and this webinar will show you how.

Reserve your place

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1:1 therapy session with Jo.

1:1 Power Hour

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Join Jo's private community where faith and healing intersect and growth and resilience are fostered in a group setting.

The Faith Filled Collective

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Keynote speaking

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Workshops & Training

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"We knew when we invited Jo that it would be an outstanding investment in us as a staff, but didn't realise just how significant it would be! People are still referring back to her session six months later! If you want to grow, develop and shift paradigms then you've come to the right place."

Jo & Lois Willis, C3 Hope Church

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