Leigh James

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MBACP PG Dip
Bathgate, West Lothian, EH47

About me

Hello and thank you for visiting my profile. My name is Leigh and I am a person-centred counsellor in West Lothian. I offer face-to-face and online counselling for individuals aged 18 and over.  

How counselling can help:

Counselling can help you to work through difficulties in your life. You might be struggling with a particular problem or maybe you feel stuck and you don’t know why. It can be helpful to talk to someone who will listen to you with empathy and without judgement. 

I see you as the expert on your own life. My role is not to give advice but to offer a confidential, supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings. This can help you to gain insight, increase self-awareness, and find a way forward that feels right for you.

I have experience of counselling people with issues including alcohol problems, anxiety, depression, loss, self-esteem and stress. I also have an interest in working with people who are childless not by choice. 

What to expect in your first session:

During your first session we can discuss what brings you to counselling and what you hope to get from it. I will explain how I work and go through matters of confidentiality and privacy. I will do my best to answer any questions you have.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Stirling University, 2016)
  • COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills (2012)
  • Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training Skills) 
  • I currently work for an alcohol counselling organisation
  • I have experience of providing counselling in a prison for adult males
  • I have experience of providing telephone support on a parenting helpline
  • I undertake regular continuous professional development

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£50.00 per session

Additional information

My fee is £50 for a 50-minute session.

Before meeting, I offer a free, short phone call so we can see if we might be a good fit. I will explain more about how I work and you are welcome to ask questions. If we both wish to proceed we can then book your first session. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Bathgate, West Lothian, EH47

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

PVG Scheme

In Scotland, criminal records checks are carried out by Disclosure Scotland. Professionals working with children or vulnerable adults must join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. You can learn more at mygov.scot , or contact this professional directly.

There are five steps into the property.

Online platforms

Google Meet
Leigh James
Leigh James