Michael James, BACP
Michael James is a counsellor who welcomes people aiming to make sense of painful experiences.
About Michael
Michael James is a counsellor who welcomes people aiming to make sense of painful experiences. He is based in the United Kingdom and has worked in therapeutic roles for many years. He explains things plainly and helps people find manageable steps forward.
He uses a person-centred stance, which means conversations follow what matters most to the client. Sessions focus on the present but also look at how past events shape current feelings and choices.
Background and approach
Michael places particular attention on trauma and its everyday effects, and on how intentional awareness can change how people respond to stress. Mindfulness is offered as deliberate, simple awareness rather than a formal practice. Michael guides people to notice patterns of thinking and behaviour and to try small changes.
This can make overwhelming problems feel more approachable and create space for different choices. He blends approaches such as acceptance and commitment ideas and attachment-informed thinking, tailoring the mix to the person in front of him. Conversations can include reflective dialogue and body-aware noticing when that seems helpful.
The work is collaborative and paced to the client’s comfort. Across his career he has supported people with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, addictions and identity questions among other concerns. He also brings experience with issues such as chronic health problems, caregiving strain, and sexual diversity.
His aim is to help people move from feeling stuck towards a clearer sense of direction.
Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed
← Browse all counsellorsRegistration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 107253 | June 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Michael lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hearing impaired
- Hospice and end-of-life counselling
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Ways of working Michael names
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Michael draws on Trauma-Focused Therapy to recognise and work with the effects of past harm on current life. This approach looks at how distressing events shape emotions, relationships and body responses, and introduces ways to process those effects gently in therapy.He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, which helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while moving towards values-based action. ACT supports coping with anxiety, depression and life transitions by teaching practical skills for staying engaged with what matters.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods over time. That collaborative process helps decide whether trauma-focused work, ACT, or attachment-based ideas suit a person best.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Video can recreate a face-to-face rhythm, phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day, live chat allows short check-ins and messaging supports regular reflection between appointments. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel while keeping continuity of care.
Frequently asked
What kinds of concerns can Michael help with?
He works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy problems, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and career or life changes.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Sessions are person-centred and collaborative, with an emphasis on present experience. He uses mindful awareness, reflective conversation and attachment-informed ideas to help people notice patterns and try new ways of responding.
How much clinical experience does he have?
Michael has 28 years of experience working in therapeutic settings and has long practised mindfulness as part of his work with clients.
What credentials and region are listed?
He is listed with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and practises from the United Kingdom.
Are sessions available in other languages or countries?
Sessions are offered in English and Michael accepts international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
He works via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with him?
To start, use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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