James Atkins

We have all experienced times in our lives when we feel stuck or overwhelmed. You may be facing a period of depression, having difficulties in relationships, finding yourself repeating unhelpful or destructive patterns, or just looking for a change in your life.

I am an 'Integrative' counsellor which simply means I am trained in and draw upon a range of approaches to counselling. There are a number of elements that counselling with me may include. The ones we use will depend on your own preference and what you'd like to work on. These can involve:

Exploring how you feel, why you are feeling that way and how you can manage difficult feelings.
Exploring how your past influences you in the here and now.  What we see during our younger years can often lead us to form distorted beliefs about ourselves and the world.
Exploring what stands in the way of you doing the things that make you happy.
Exploring dynamics within relationships whether that be with your family, colleagues, friends or partners and understanding what you can do to make positive changes.

Finding the right counsellor to talk with is very important and can feel like a challenge in itself.  I find the most reliable predictor of whether any therapy will be useful for someone is whether they feel comfortable with the counsellor they are working with.  Attention to our inner lives requires respect and courage yet fosters greater understanding, healing, growth, and the making of a happier life.  You can speak to me in confidence and privacy without fear of judgement and I will be open, honest, and committed to our work.

Before training as a counsellor, I worked within HR in the corporate world.  I found what I enjoyed most was working with people at depth, and outside the bounds of rigid policies or institutional expectations.  This is why I chose to train in the world of psychotherapy and counselling.

I have experience in working with a wide variety of areas including but not limited to: relationship problems, infidelity, suicide ideation, sexuality, anxiety, depression, existential crisis, sexual issues, self-esteem, loneliness, addiction, gender identity, loss, bereavement, bullying, work difficulties, and family issues.

I am compassionate and committed to ensuring my practice is an inclusive and respectful space for all; regardless of sexuality, gender identity, race, religion, age, body size or ability.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and all others welcome.

My standard fee is £50 per session although I do offer some flexibility for those experiencing financial difficulties so please ask about this.  I also reserve several cut-cost counselling slots for students looking for regular long-term therapy at an affordable rate.

If you would like to arrange a free initial phone call then please get in touch. It's always a good idea to check whether the counsellor you choose is the right fit for you.

Face-to-face appointments are available in Norwich Monday to Friday and some weekends. Telephone appointments are possible on any day or evening.