Simon James

I'm an integrative, humanistic counsellor offering a calm and confidential space where you can explore whatever is going on for you at your own pace. I work with adults, couples and young people (18+) in Swansea and online across the UK. I have particular experience supporting neurodivergent clients, veterans, and people navigating anxiety, identity questions, or major life transitions.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply need someone outside of your immediate world to talk to, you're in the right place. You don’t have to figure things out alone. I’ll walk alongside you to help make sense of your experiences, build self-awareness, and move towards a life that feels more authentic and manageable on your terms.

I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy, depending on your needs and goals, and will always adapt the work to suit you as an individual.

Sessions are £40 one-to-one and £60 for couples and last 50 minutes. I offer a limited number of lower-cost spaces for Students and veterans. Please feel free to enquire. Payment is due by bank transfer before the day of the session. I offer a free 20-minute introductory call to help you decide whether I’m the right fit.

Choosing to begin counselling is a meaningful and personal step. Whether you are coming to therapy on your own or as a couple, I understand how important it is to feel safe, heard, and genuinely supported throughout the process.

My role is to offer a space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences without judgement, labels or pressure. If you are attending as a couple, I provide a balanced space where both of you have the opportunity to be heard, understood and respected.

I aim to create an atmosphere that feels warm, grounding and human, so you can show up as you are. Together, we will work in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful for you.

I offer individual and couples counselling in person in Swansea and online across the UK. This gives you the flexibility to choose what works best for your circumstances. Whether you prefer meeting online or sitting together in the therapy room, I bring the same care, presence and attention to each session.

My way of working

I work in an integrative and humanistic way, drawing on several therapeutic approaches depending on your needs.

Person-Centred Therapy places your experiences and perspective at the heart of our sessions. You lead the way, and I walk alongside you as you explore what matters to you.

Gestalt Therapy focuses on your here-and-now experiences, helping you become more aware of patterns, behaviours, emotions and ways of relating to others.

Existential Therapy explores questions around meaning, choice, relationships, responsibility and change, while keeping the focus on your own circumstances and experiences.

Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, I adapt our work around your personality, goals, relationships and the challenges you are facing.

When working with couples, I focus on helping both partners understand what is happening within the relationship. We might explore communication, repeated patterns, trust, emotional distance, conflict, resentment, intimacy or changes within the relationship.

Couples counselling is not about deciding who is right or wrong. My role is to create a balanced space where you both have an opportunity to speak honestly, listen differently and develop a better understanding of each other.

Who I work with

I offer counselling for adults aged 18+ and couples.

My practice is open to people from all backgrounds. I have a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent clients, including people with ADHD and autism, as well as people exploring identity, self-acceptance and major changes in their lives.

I also have experience supporting veterans, members of the Armed Forces community and people whose experiences of military life continue to affect their relationships, well-being, or sense of identity.

Some of the issues people bring to counselling include:

Anxiety, worry and stress

Depression or low mood

Self-esteem and self-worth

Bereavement and loss

Major life changes

Relationship and family difficulties

Communication difficulties within relationships

Trust and resentment

Emotional distance between partners

Identity and belonging

Neurodivergence, masking and burnout

Workplace stress

Feeling stuck or lacking direction

You do not need to have a clearly defined problem before coming to counselling. Some people arrive with a sense that something does not feel right, while others want space to better understand themselves or their relationship.

What to expect in sessions

Our sessions are collaborative. I will not tell you what to do or judge the choices you make. Instead, I provide a confidential space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences openly.

In individual counselling, we might explore past experiences, relationships, patterns in your life or how you respond to challenges in everyday situations.

In couples counselling, we might look at how you communicate, how conflict develops, what each of you needs from the relationship and the patterns you find yourselves repeating.

The aim is not to take sides. I work with the relationship while making sure both partners have space to express their experiences.

Sometimes our work focuses on immediate difficulties. At other times, we might explore deeper themes around identity, connection, meaning, trust or personal growth.

You set the pace, and we regularly review our work together to ensure the sessions remain useful.

Accessibility and inclusivity

I am committed to making counselling as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Being neurodivergent myself, I understand how important it is to have a space where you do not feel pressure to mask or fit somebody else's idea of how you should communicate, think or respond.

If you have particular needs regarding communication, environment, or session structure, we can adapt how we work together.

This also applies to couples where one or both partners are neurodivergent. Differences in communication, emotional processing, routines or expectations can sometimes create misunderstandings within relationships. Therapy gives you space to explore these differences without treating either partner as the problem.

I also recognise that starting therapy can feel daunting. Reaching out for support is not always easy, particularly when discussing personal experiences or relationship difficulties. I will work at a pace that feels respectful and manageable.

Professional standards

I am trained as an integrative counsellor and work within the ethical framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.

I am committed to providing a professional, ethical and safe counselling service. I also undertake regular supervision and continuing professional development to support my practice and the people I work with.

Moving forward

Counselling is about building a relationship where you feel able to explore what matters to you.

Some people choose a short period of counselling to focus on a particular difficulty. Others prefer longer-term work to explore deeper patterns, experiences or relationships.

Couples might come to counselling during a difficult period, after a loss of trust, because communication has broken down, or simply because they want to understand each other better and strengthen their relationship.

At the beginning, we will discuss what you hope to gain from counselling and continue checking in as our work develops.

Above all, I want therapy to offer you a place where you feel listened to, respected and able to speak openly.

Next steps

If you are considering individual or couples counselling with me, please feel free to get in touch.

I offer a free 20-minute online consultation where we can talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you are looking for and whether working together feels right.

For couples, this consultation also gives both partners an opportunity to meet me, ask questions and get a sense of how I work.

There is no pressure to continue afterwards. Finding a counsellor you feel comfortable with matters, whether you are seeking support for yourself or for your relationship.