I’m James – I am a warm, understanding and open-minded therapist offering person-centred psychotherapy and counselling, online and in Exeter. I am well qualified, experienced and BACP-registered.
Whatever challenges you’re facing, and whatever changes you hope for, I may well be able to support you in your journey.
Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or alone with their experience. Over time, our work often helps a person feel more grounded, clearer about themselves, and more empowered in their life. My approach is warm, thoughtful, and grounded in well-established psychological research.
I offer one free exploratory session to everyone.
I am available to work with individuals, couple and small groups, in Exeter and online. I also offer walking therapy.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person
My approach to therapy
Ultimately, my work is to support you in your own therapeutic journey.
I do this by offering a genuine human relationship where you are safe, accepted, supported, and appreciated. Together, we’ll explore what you’re experiencing, and I will do my best to help you to heal if and where needed, and to deepen your self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-acceptance, so you can figure out your next steps in life. The value of this relational approach to therapy is supported by a strong body of research (see these meta-analyses, for example).
“The gentle and sensitive companionship of an empathic stance… provides illumination and healing.“
Carl Rogers, A Way of Being
Whilst it doesn’t have to, it is the case for many people that our work will involve connecting with painful or confusing thoughts and feelings. Our sessions can be a space to cry, rage, ponder, and laugh — you are free to bring all and any thoughts and feelings into our sessions. We’ll do our best to make sense of them as they are, and find a way forward.
I’ve studied a variety of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories, which underpin my work. Sometimes, we might bring these ideas usefully into our conversations, and I also welcome exploring any theories or perspectives you find helpful or feel might be relevant to you.
At the same time, unlike some forms of therapy, our sessions won’t generally be led by theory. My role is to hold a safe, non-judgmental space, creating a setting where you are supported in your own therapeutic process. This often can involve figuring out what you need to understand, processing and expressing stuck emotions, integrating experience, and finding ways forward in your life. I will offer you my full and engaged presence and attention, and gently offer reflections, ask questions, and make tentative suggestions where experience suggests this might be helpful.
“I have come to feel that the only learning which significantly influences behaviour is self-discovered, self-appropriated learning.”
Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person
Many people find that over time this kind of work helps them become happier, less anxious, and more congruent, integrated and sure of themselves. At times change is gradual, but it can bring a deeper sense of ease, agency, integration and enjoyment of life.
My approach is broadly known as a ‘person-centred’ approach, and I am deeply influenced by the work of psychologist, researcher and philosopher Carl Rogers (who was one of the leading figures in humanistic psychotherapy). Amongst many others, I am also influenced by Dr. Daniel Siegel, particularly his work on integrating experience, and by Dr. Tara Brach and her work on radical acceptance. If you would like to read more about how I work, please click here.
“The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.”
Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance
No form of therapy is going to suit everyone, and its important to find someone you feel comfortable with. So, I obviously cannot (and should not) guarantee that I can definitely help you, nor should I guarantee any particular outcomes. But what I can say is that I have honestly ‘done my homework’ when it comes to therapy. I like my job, even when it’s tough, and if you would like to work together I will do my best to help you. For many people that proves enough to help them bring about substantial improvements in their experience of life.
Please feel free to get in touch. I offer a free exploratory session so you can get a feel for working together, without any commitment or pressure.
Where does therapy take place?
I offer therapy both online and in person in Exeter. I can also offer walking therapy.
Online sessions take place on Zoom.
In person sessions take place in our therapy room set within a small nature garden, located in the Polsloe/Heavitree area of Exeter. It is a calm, private setting designed so you can feel comfortable and are able to speak openly and express yourself freely.
If you prefer being outdoors and moving during our sessions I also offer walking therapy nearby. These can take place in Higher Cemetery or Mincing Lake Valley Park in Exeter. (Some clients alternate between ‘in-room’ and walking sessions depending on the weather and how they are feeling on a particular day).
Session fees
My normal fee is £80 per session.
Sessions typically last 60 minutes, with evening sessions lasting 50 minutes. If you feel a different session length would suit you better, I’m happy to discuss options. Most clients have sessions weekly or fortnightly, but the schedule can be flexible to fit your needs.
I also offer a few lower-cost sessions where fees are a particular barrier to accessing good quality therapy. If you’d like to know more, please click here.
For more information about payment, including what your payment covers, please click here.
Please note I have a 48-hour session cancellation policy. If you’d like to read more about this policy before contacting me, please click here.
If you have any questions about fees, payment, or scheduling, please feel free to be in touch.
More about me
I am a father of two in my late 30s living in Exeter. We previously lived in London, and I love the city still. Now, though, my partner and I have chosen to be in Exeter as we find it a great place for our young family. We have found good friends and a growing sense of community here. We enjoy days in the park, at the beach and on Dartmoor. We also enjoy times sitting with friends around a fire in the evening. I have also enjoyed making friends whilst studying a PG Cert in Psychedelics at Exeter University.
In my own time I enjoy walks on the Moor, socialising, listening to music, thinking and studying. (I am a “sociable introvert” at heart).
I practice mindfulness and whilst I am not an adherent to any particular religion, I am open about the importance of a sense of spirituality in my life. I have an interest in Buddhist, Hindu and Taoist thought, as well as Western philosophy, psychology and Christian spirituality. These diverse traditions give me a frame in which I find a lot of meaning in working as a therapist.
My professional journey to becoming a therapist
I studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Durham, and then went on to do an MA in Philosophy at Bristol. (My focus was on the philosophy of ethics).
I had always loved being outdoors when I was young (I had some really good opportunities in school). Whilst I was studying I also trained to be an outdoor instructor and expedition leader (qualifying as a Mountain Leader with the Mountain Training Association), and started working freelance, on everything from small jobs with younger children camping in a school fields through to more technical mountain expeditions in the Scottish Highlands. I also did some overseas work – trips leading groups in Mongolia and the Himalayas stand out as particular highlights.
I loved working with people outdoors, but wanting a more settled life in my late twenties, I trained to be a teacher. I spent 9 years teaching economics in inner-London schools. I gained as much education as I gave from some very inspirational young people – it was tough but I gained a huge amount from my experience as a teacher.
During this time, I began my own therapeutic journey, and was lucky enough to find myself working with Charles Olivier, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for holding a relationship in which I could reconnect with some really difficult emotions. Through that work I was able to start making decisions which served me and those around me better. I still model some aspects of my practice on the way Charles worked with me.
Feeling the impact therapy was having on me I became very interested in psychology, initially doing a Graduate Certificate in Psychology at UCL. This led me on to doing several counselling courses and eventually applying to study the person-centred approach at the Metanoia Institute in West London. I spent 3 intensive years training at Metanoia. I gained a degree level Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling which is the basis upon which I work.
I continue to study psychology, philosophy, and psychotherapy, both for my own interest and to develop my work with clients. I am currently working on an MSc in person-centred psychotherapy.
A list of my academic and professional qualifications is available here.
Areas of therapeutic work
There is a sense in which trying to separate one area of therapeutic work from another is a little artificial. On the other hand, I appreciate that if you are suffering in a particular way it might be helpful to know whether or not a therapist can help with that particular experience. I can support you with the following experiences (and others that are not listed here):
- anxiety
- depression
- personal development
- self-harm
- suicidality
- trauma and PTSD
- anger
- stress
- relationship difficulty, including work with pairs and small groups
- experience of addiction
- bereavement and grief
- exploration of sexuality and coming out
- exploration of gender identity
- polyamory, non-monogamy and open relating
- loneliness
- feelings of being lost or uncertain
- loss of meaning
- self-awareness and self-development
- death and mortality
- spirituality
- psychedelic integration
Contacting James
If you would like to book an exploratory introductory session, online or in Exeter, or just ask a question, please follow the link below.