Natalie James

Sometimes life can feel like a stuck record, can't it? The same problems keep coming back, relationships feel difficult, or you find yourself reacting in ways you don't quite understand.

Perhaps you're feeling anxious, low or overwhelmed. Or maybe life looks good on the outside, but something doesn't feel right on the inside.

You might know exactly what you'd like help with. Equally, you might not have a clue where to start. That's OK too.

Whatever brings you to therapy, we can take the time to explore it together.

Why Work With Me?

I've been a therapist for 15 years, with oodles of experience working with people from all walks of life. And like many of my clients, I've been around the block a few times myself!

I'm friendly, down-to-earth and genuinely interested in people. Why we do the things we do, how our experiences shape us and why we get stuck in familiar patterns… all that stuff fascinates me.

I won't sit silently nodding at you for 50 minutes! I'll listen, ask questions, share observations and sometimes gently challenge you when it might be helpful. I'll also give you space when you need it.

What Can Therapy Help With?

People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons, including:

• Anxiety, depression and feeling overwhelmed
• Relationship difficulties, recurring patterns and intimacy
• Trauma and difficult childhood experiences
• Family relationships, including estrangement
• Bereavement, grief and loss
• Self-esteem, confidence and self-criticism
• ADHD, autism and neurodivergence
• Obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours and OCD
• Exploring gender, sexuality and identity   
• Workplace difficulties, stress and life transitions                                                             

These are just some of the things I work with. After all, there's far more to a person than the challenges they might face!

If you're autistic, ADHD or both, you might want to explore the challenges of navigating a world that isn't always set up for different ways of thinking and experiencing things. Equally, your neurodivergence might have nothing to do with why you're coming to therapy.

Whether you're LGBTQI+, including trans or non-binary, you're welcome here. You might want to explore something connected to your identity, or something completely unrelated.

Working With Couples

Relationships can be wonderful, complicated, frustrating and rewarding. Sometimes all in the same day!

As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, I can help you understand each other better, improve communication, explore recurring patterns or work through particular difficulties.

Imago Relationship Therapy helps couples look beyond familiar arguments and understand what's happening between them. You don't need to be in crisis to come to couples therapy. Sometimes it's about strengthening what you already have.

How I Work

I trained for four years in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (TA), gaining a Level 7 postgraduate diploma, equivalent to Master's level. I'm also a registered member of the BACP.

I've continued developing my skills through further training, including Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP).

We might explore how your past influences your life today, focus on what's happening in the here and now, or a bit of both. I can also introduce practical tools and ways of understanding yourself to use outside our sessions.

The relationship between us matters. You don't have to find the right words, have all the answers or pretend everything's fine.

It's worth mentioning that I don't have a magic wand, unfortunately! I can't make life's problems disappear. But I can help you explore them, understand yourself better and consider what might need to change.

How Long Will I Need Therapy?

There's no set answer! Some people come for a handful of sessions to explore something specific. Others find longer-term therapy helpful, particularly when difficulties have been around for years.

We'll discuss what you're hoping to get from therapy and review how things are going as we work together.

Getting Started

If you're thinking about starting therapy, I'd love to hear from you.

Email or text are the best ways to contact me. We can arrange a free, brief telephone call of around 10–15 minutes to discuss what you're looking for and how I work, with no obligation to book afterwards.

If we decide to go ahead, we'll arrange our first appointment.

If you're unemployed or on a low income, there are a limited number of lower-cost appointments available.

The Practice & Location

I offer in-person and online appointments.

My main practice is a cosy, private garden therapy room in Levenshulme, South Manchester. I also work from The Didsbury Counselling and Therapy Centre in West Didsbury.

Levenshulme is around three miles south of Manchester city centre, with good transport links and easy access from Didsbury, Chorlton, the Heatons and Stockport. The train station is approximately a ten-minute walk away.

If you think we might work well together, get in touch. I'd be delighted to hear from you.

£60.00 for 50 minute session 

£80.00 for 1 hour session (couples therapy)

Low cost therapy available for people who are in financial hardship. Spaces are limited but feel free to enquire.

Daytime, evening and weekend sessions available.

I offer fixed and flexible appointments.

I have professional indemnity and public liability insurance through Holistic Insurance Services.

I'm registered with the Information Comissioner's Office.