Liz James BA (Hons), PG Dip, Assoc CIPD, Reg. MBACP (Accredited)
Email meAbout me
Thank you for visiting my profile. I have specialised in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and am a fully-qualified CBT therapist/counsellor having gained a postgraduate diploma in CBT. I provide 1-2-1 CBT sessions for adults. CBT is evidence-based (substantial research has been carried out showing it can be effective) and is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) especially for anxiety (in its many forms including panic; OCD; phobias; health, generalised and social anxieties) and depression.
CBT provides a safe, reassuring structure from which to explore individual problems and the connection between each client's emotions, thoughts, behaviour and physical reactions. We would focus on the client's goals from the outset. Discovering what has led to current beliefs and vicious cycles can be helpful but there is no necessity to dwell on the past. Sessions are usually on a short-term basis of up to six months and sessions are usually booked on a weekly or fortnightly basis. I believe in therapy that is accessible in terms of fees, flexibility and absence of waiting lists. CBT involves a client and therapist working together in a collaborative way and feedback from clients is encouraged. The trusting alliance between a client and CBT therapist is important and so is the passing on of information and techniques that can be used by a client between sessions and after sessions have ended.
A knowledge of personnel and legal matters has nurtured my interest in occupational problems (such as bullying, harassment, redundancy and work related stress) and made me acutely aware of the importance of confidentiality. There would be exceptions to confidentiality regarding our work together, for example, I attend 1-2-1 clinical supervision every month (without revealing the identity of clients) to maintain standards and adhere to ethical frameworks.
Having studied languages and literature (Welsh, English, medieval English, French) to advanced levels I believe that writing about thoughts and feelings is often therapeutic and keeping thought records can be an effective CBT tool.
I have benefited from many years of varied work experience with diverse clients and I believe in continuous improvement, therefore, I attend courses to keep my skills and knowledge wide and updated. I attended personal CBT sessions as part of my training which has made me more aware of how a client may feel about attending sessions.
I am a counsellor who is registered on BACP's accredited register (registration no. 037157) and a member of BACP (MBACP). I am also accredited by BACP which is the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. In addition I am an associate member of the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development). I abide by the standards and ethics of my professional bodies. I have registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and conform with data protection regulations. I have been issued with recent DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and formerly CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) certificates and have joined their updating service.
If you are interested in booking a CBT/counselling session with me please don't hesitate to leave a message by e-mail (as I switch off my phone during sessions) and I will reply without delay. You would not be committing yourself to a fixed number of sessions. I would send further information to you by e-mail before the first session.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Pg Dip/Postgraduate Diploma level 7 in therapeutic counselling (CBT) - BACP accredited course (2012) - University of Wales, Faculty of Education & Social Sciences
- MBACP & Accredited & Registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist (no. 037157)
- PG Dip/Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management - University of South Wales
- Assoc CIPD
- Postgraduate Professional Law Examination - Law Society/UWE Bristol
- BA (Honours) Degree - English Literature - Cardiff University
- Welsh as a 2nd Language Certificate - Cardiff University
- Counselling Certificate (1995)
Examples of Additional Completed Training Courses/Workshops
- Psychology and adult life (Cardiff University)
- Brief solution focused therapy (University of Wales)
- Mindfulness (Samye Foundation)
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: depression & beyond (Prof. Mark Williams)
- Management of chronic pain (BABCP/Helen MacDonald) CBT for insomnia/sleep problems (BABCP/Dr. Philip Gehrman)
- Loss & grief (Dr. Colin Murray Parkes OBE)
- Mental health first aid (Mind/NHS)
- Mental health & wellbeing in the workplace
- ACT - acceptance & commitment therapy
Building resilience (BABCP/Dr. Christine Padesky) - Stress management (National Assembly)
- Customer care
- Social anxiety, Thrive - maximising the benefits of psychological therapies (Prof. David Clark)
- Visual impairment awareness (Sight Support)
- Mental health awareness (CIPD/Gofal/Time to Change/Equality & Human Rights Commission)
- Working with shame, compassion focused therapy (Prof. Paul Gilbert)
- Compassion focused cognitive therapy for shamed based trauma memories (Dr. Deborah Lee)
- Collaborative Case Conceptualization (Prof. William Kuyken)
- Integrating imagery in cognitive therapy (Dr. Ann Hackman)
- Writing for wellbeing (Orchard Foundation, Bristol)
- Making connections (BACP/Prof. Tim Bond)
- Working with trauma; Attachment, early trauma & relationships; schema therapy (NHS/University Health Board)
- Treating disgust (Dr. David Veale)
- CBT for perfectionism (BABCP/Prof. Roz Shafran)
- Exploring birth trauma through art (Dr. Jac Saorsa/Prof. Alison Fiander)
- Integrating arts methods in counselling (BACP & University of Wales)
- Compassion Focused Therapy for Complex Presentations (BABCP)
- OCD-UK, Ride4OCD, CBT4Wales (Prof. Paul Salkovskis/OCD-UK/BABCP), All Wales Psychotherapy Network, Psychological Trauma Society (eg. organisational management of traumatic stress), Making Connections (BACP 2018) conferences
- Using behavioural experiments (BABCP/Dr Nick Grey 2018)
- EMDR Part 2 accredited course - evidence based approach recommended by NICE & World Health Organisation (EMDR Works 2018)
Experience as a CBT Therapist
- NHS/University Health Boards/GPs' surgeries
- Mind (mental health charity)
- Self-employed/private practice (including working with UK-wide private healthcare providers, occupational health departments, medico-legal referrers, EAPs and a charities including ones that help people with mental health including anxiety)
Additional Previous Employment/Work Experience
- NHS Directorate
- NHS - personnel departments
- Human resources
- National Assembly
- Customer care & services (including dealing with emergencies)
- Private tutor (English literature)
- Literacy skills mentor
- Solicitors' offices - assisting people with legal problems and court attendances
- Helping people affected by road traffic accidents
- Various charities that provide support (including for people with learning disabilities and visual impairment)
Areas of counselling I deal with
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Binge-eating disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Bullying
- Career counselling
- Carer support
- Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
- Depression
- Disabilities
- Feeling sad
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Loneliness
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Passive aggressive behaviour
- Phobias
- Postnatal depression
- Redundancy
- Relationship problems
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Separation and divorce
- Stress
- Trauma
- Work-related stress
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Panic attacks
- Emotional eating
- Pain management
- Sleep problems
- Low mood
- Menopause
- Health related issues
- Loss
- Personal development
- Perfectionism
- Guilt & shame
- Self-compassion
- Building resilience
- Occupational problems
Therapies offered
Fees
- £50 for each 1 hour appointment (an equal fee for all clients and every session including the first)
- £65 for assessments
- An additional fee would be agreed for providing reports
Further information
We would meet for our CBT/counselling sessions at premises used exclusively for counselling/CBT on Whitchurch Rd, CARDIFF close to cafes, shops and bus stops (Companies House/Newfoundland Road routes 38, 38A, 35, 36) with free adjacent roadside parking
Maps & Directions
Cardiff, CF14
Type of session
| Online counselling: | No |
| Telephone counselling: | No |
| Face to face counselling: | Yes |
| Home visits: | No |
Practical details
| Sign language: | No |
| Other languages: | None |
Accessibility
| Wheelchair access: | Unspecified |
Availability
Evening as well as daytime appointments can be booked for clients who cannot attend during office hours (when available).
Types of client
| Adults |
| Older adults |
| Organisations |
| Employee Assistance Programme |
