Hi, I’m James. I’m an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist based in Manchester city centre, offering face-to-face and online therapy to adults experiencing a range of emotional, psychological and relational difficulties.

I believe therapy is more than simply managing symptoms or finding ways to cope. It’s an opportunity to slow things down, develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and explore the experiences, relationships and patterns that may be influencing how you feel and navigate life.

People come to therapy for all sorts of reasons. You might be experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, low self-worth, or a sense of feeling stuck. Equally, you might not know exactly what’s wrong but recognise that something in your life doesn’t feel quite right.

My approach to psychotherapy is primarily humanistic and person-centred, grounded in the belief that each person has their own unique experiences, values and capacity for growth. I work interactively, drawing on existential, psychodynamic, attachment-informed and cognitive behavioural approaches to ensure therapy is responsive to your individual needs rather than following a fixed model.

For me, therapy is a mindful, relational process that supports meaningful change. This doesn’t always mean changing how you feel or finding immediate solutions. Sometimes, particularly when working with grief, uncertainty, loneliness or difficult life experiences, the work involves creating space to understand and make sense of what you’re going through.

I’m interested in exploring both conscious and unconscious patterns, including how earlier experiences, relationships and ways of protecting ourselves might influence how we relate to ourselves and others today. My existential perspective also invites us to consider some of life’s deeper questions around identity, freedom, responsibility, meaning, relationships and uncertainty, particularly when navigating significant changes or feeling disconnected from ourselves.

Above all, I aim to offer a genuine, compassionate and collaborative therapeutic relationship where you feel able to explore your experiences openly, without judgement, and at your own pace. Alongside my private practice, I have experience working across organisational and community mental health settings, supporting individuals with a wide range of presenting difficulties.