JAMES

ADHD & ASD COUNSELLOR 
EXISTENTIAL COUNSELLING
YOUTH SPECIALIST 
GANGS & KNIFE CRIME ADVISOR

DIAGNOSED ADHD, DYSPRAXIA

LOCATION ~ KT22

James is a qualified integrative counsellor trained in Existential Counselling, Gestalt Therapy and Person-Centred Counselling.

James’ interest in mental health was sparked when he was 15 years old and expelled from school for being ‘the naughty boy’ and referred for ‘talking therapy’ as a client. He decided he too very much wanted to help people in some way.

Much as he wanted to learn, James could never ‘just sit down’ and focus on any of the school work. He would often find himself in trouble, mainly due to impulsive behavior and being the class clown.

James found it frustrating, being in an environment where he was constantly over-stimulated meaning he could never really just sit and focus on anything.

His school gave up on him as they didn’t know what to do with him – they could never get James to sit still and engage in anything so he was sent to a PRU – Pupil Referral Unit.

At no point did they investigate whether this might have been due to undiagnosed ADHD.

James went on to be a Youth Worker in London working with a wide variety of issues including teenage gang members.

He spent several years working as a Support Worker for clients who had learning difficulties including ADHD and Autism.

James combined his youth support work with studying to become a counsellor and qualified in 2016 at the age of 27.

Recognising himself in so many of these clients, James decided to seek out his own diagnosis and made complete sense of his own life when he was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyspraxia at the age of 29.

Since 2016 James has been working privately as a Counsellor but also with agencies and charitable organisations.

James has worked in a 6th Form College with 16-20-year-olds and relates extremely well to this age group. He knows it is a critical time for identifying who you are and how you want your future life to look.

James has lived with ADHD and Dyspraxia his whole life and truly understands the struggles both can bring to adolescents and adults.

Having been misdiagnosed as a kid and teenager and labelled ‘the naughty child’ James understands how much of a battle it can be when you are misunderstood and mislabelled – and how this can impact on your self-esteem, emotional well-being and can limit your thinking around your future.

James has experience working with clients with learning difficulties, those questioning their gender and sexuality, addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship issues, domestic abuse and gangs.

James’s counselling approach when working with clients is an integrative mixture of counselling methods underpinned with a broad outlook to understand people’s world views and why people see the world through their eyes as they do.

This can help identify negative thinking and put clients on a more positive path.

He is passionate about helping clients understand their conditions and to use them positively to create the future they want for themselves.

James works with people of all ages in a completely non-judgmental environment to facilitate mental wellbeing and personal growth.

 

Qualifications

  • Degree in Humanistic Counselling Theory and Practice, Existential Counselling, Gestalt Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy  Level 5  2016
  • Counselling Theory and Practice, CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Transactional Analysis Level 3  2012
  • Counselling Theory and Practice Level 2  2011
  • Introduction to Counselling, Level 1  2010
  • Member BACP
  • 700+ Face to Face Counselling Hours

 

JAMES

ADHD & ASD COUNSELLOR
EXISTENTIAL COUNSELLING
YOUTH SPECIALIST 
GANGS & KNIFE CRIME ADVISOR


DIAGNOSED ADHD, DYSPRAXIA

LOCATION ~ KT22

James is a qualified integrative counsellor trained in Existential Counselling, Gestalt Therapy and Person-Centred Counselling.

James’ interest in mental health was sparked when he was 15 years old and expelled from school for being ‘the naughty boy’ and referred for ‘talking therapy’ as a client. He decided he too very much wanted to help people in some way.

Much as he wanted to learn, James could never ‘just sit down’ and focus on any of the school work. He would often find himself in trouble, mainly due to impulsive behavior and being the class clown.

James found it frustrating, being in an environment where he was constantly over-stimulated meaning he could never really just sit and focus on anything.

His school gave up on him as they didn’t know what to do with him – they could never get James to sit still and engage in anything so he was sent to a PRU – Pupil Referral Unit.

At no point did they investigate whether this might have been due to undiagnosed ADHD.

James went on to be a Youth Worker in London working with a wide variety of issues including teenage gang members.

He spent several years working as a Support Worker for clients who had learning difficulties including ADHD and Autism.

James combined his youth support work with studying to become a counsellor and qualified in 2016 at the age of 27.

Recognising himself in so many of these clients, James decided to seek out his own diagnosis and made complete sense of his own life when he was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyspraxia at the age of 29.

Since 2016 James has been working privately as a Counsellor but also with agencies and charitable organisations.

James has worked in a 6th Form College with 16-20-year-olds and relates extremely well to this age group. He knows it is a critical time for identifying who you are and how you want your future life to look.

James has lived with ADHD and Dyspraxia his whole life and truly understands the struggles both can bring to adolescents and adults.

Having been misdiagnosed as a kid and teenager and labelled ‘the naughty child’ James understands how much of a battle it can be when you are misunderstood and mislabelled – and how this can impact on your self-esteem, emotional well-being and can limit your thinking around your future.

James has experience working with clients with learning difficulties, those questioning their gender and sexuality, addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, bereavement, relationship issues, domestic abuse and gangs.

James’s counselling approach when working with clients is an integrative mixture of counselling methods underpinned with a broad outlook to understand people’s world views and why people see the world through their eyes as they do.

This can help identify negative thinking and put clients on a more positive path.

He is passionate about helping clients understand their conditions and to use them positively to create the future they want for themselves.

James works with people of all ages in a completely non-judgmental environment to facilitate mental wellbeing and personal growth.

 

Qualifications

  • Degree in Humanistic Counselling Theory and Practice, Existential Counselling, Gestalt Therapy, Person-Centred Therapy  Level 5  2016
  • Counselling Theory and Practice, CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Transactional Analysis Level 3  2012
  • Counselling Theory and Practice Level 2  2011
  • Introduction to Counselling, Level 1  2010
  • Member BACP
  • 700+ Face to Face Counselling Hours