About me
I'm James, an integrative counsellor, cognitive behavioural therapist, and mental health trainer, providing in-person and online counselling in Welwyn Garden City.
You may be experiencing difficulties and challenges in your life - with how you are feeling, negative thinking, or struggling to cope. I offer a private, non-judgemental and supportive space to talk, to explore what you are experiencing, and to gain awareness, insights and practical strategies to help you move forward and make changes supportive of your wellbeing.
In my private practice I support people struggling with anxiety, worry, low mood, depression, stress, bereavement, loss, low self-esteem, work, and relationship difficulties. I use a counselling room within a light, modern and welcoming conference and training centre.
Alongside my private practice I volunteer as a counsellor with Mind in Hertfordshire's low-cost counselling service, supporting people with a wide range of mental health and wellbeing challenges. I also work within the civil service as a Wellbeing trainer and mental health advisor.
As a counsellor, how would I work with you?
My initial integrative core training was person-centred and psychodynamic. Person-centred therapy emphasises the importance of the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client to the success of therapy. A positive relationship is achieved through the therapist being fully available to the client; offering unconditional positive regard (accepting and valuing you), being congruent (honest regarding how they are experiencing you and your world), and empathic (striving to see your viewpoint and experience).
My psychodynamic training means I'm interested to look at how your childhood experiences and family life may impact on your current thinking, feelings, relationships and behaviour. This includes bringing awareness to your unconscious mind (automatic thoughts, feelings and behaviours that have evolved over your lifetime).
Following my foundation counselling training, I have completed a second Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The simple basis of CBT is that our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical feelings are all connected – a change in one area results in changes in the other areas. CBT focuses on what thoughts and behaviours are influencing how you are feeling. By identifying these, you can challenge your thinking or change your behavioural response to feel better and develop more positive reactions.
With therapist guidance, you’ll learn practical tools and techniques to change thinking and behavioural patterns. When you finish the therapy you will be able to use these tools and techniques independently to maintain or improve on the progression made during therapy.
Where relevant, I also provide psychoeducation: information regarding common mental health challenges, including coping strategies that can be supportive of a client's wellbeing.
Explanatory videos on counselling and CBT
For more information please visit my website (link at top of profile) which includes two short videos providing an overview of what happens in counselling and also an explanation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Skills and Theory
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Foundation Course in Psychodynamic Skills and Theory
I began my counselling training in 2013 and provide counselling to adults through my private practice.
Alongside my private practice, I volunteer as a counsellor with Mind in Hertfordshire's low-cost counselling service, supporting people with a wide range of mental health and wellbeing challenges.
I have worked in the civil service since 2001 in a variety of operational and managerial roles and now work in the civil service as a mental health and wellbeing advisor and trainer.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£70 per session
£65 concessionary fee for keyworkers
£60 concessionary fee for counselling students
When I work
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Further information
Location and counselling room
My practice rooms are located very close to the centre of Welwyn Garden City, off Parkway, a short walk from the train station. There is a free car park available at the location. I also provide counselling online for clients who would prefer to meet (or start therapy) online.
I use a counselling room within a light, modern and welcoming conference and training centre. The location offers a combination of professional and private space but with a more homely, comfortable and relaxed decor within the counselling rooms which is perfectly suited to therapy. The venue is particularly well-suited for clients who may feel less comfortable with the idea of having counselling in their therapist's own home.
How to contact me and what happens next
Please contact me by email, phone, or via my website contact form. I check my messages regularly and will reply as soon as possible. If you feel comfortable, please provide a brief summary of why you are seeking counselling.
A first step is for us to arrange a short telephone call (15-30minutes, free) to get a sense of what has brought you to counselling; what you are hoping to achieve from therapy; answer any questions you may have; and importantly so that we can both consider if we can work together to meet your needs.
The next step would be to arrange our first session, which would be an assessment session. During this session, I would take a more detailed client history and understanding of why you are seeking counselling. We would agree the aims of the therapy and how we would work together, including important areas such as confidentiality, and agree our working contract. The assessment session is 50 minutes in length.
We would then arrange to meet weekly for 50 minute therapy sessions.
Client Testimonials
"The impact and experience of counselling was very positive. It was easy to talk, explore, and figure out what I wanted. It was an opportunity to explore different coping strategies."
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"I reached out to James for help with anxiety after an eight-month struggle following a bad panic attack. I’ve dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for over a decade, and they’ve often made everyday tasks feel overwhelming. I tried to manage on my own, but it wasn’t working, and I knew I needed a different approach.
From the start, James was open, honest, and adaptable to my needs. He created a space where I felt comfortable talking and never judged for how I was feeling.
Together, we used a CBT-based approach to understand the root of my anxiety, learn practical techniques to reduce it, and apply those tools in real-world situations with his guidance. I now feel equipped to handle any situation where anxiety may arise.
With his help my anxiety is in the best place it has ever been."
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Please take a look at my website (link at top of profile) for further information including additional client testimonials.
