Renate James

Hi, I’m a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP reg. 058677). I have 10 years experience as a helping professional.

At Change, you will find a safe and confidential place to talk about your life, including the confusing, painful and uncomfortable things. Our counselling sessions will give you a chance to make choices about the changes you want to make in your life.

What is important to me as a therapist with regard to the changes a client can make as a result of counselling/therapy?

Autonomy: To realise our full potential as grown-ups, we need to update the strategies for dealing with life, which we decided upon as infants. When we find that these strategies are no longer working for us, we need to replace them with new strategies, which do work.

This includes gaining the capacity for:

Awareness: To live in the present moment, perceiving it without interruption.

Spontaneity: The ability to put aside familiar, well-exercised options, and choose according to what seems to fit the moment.

Intimacy: Being able to expose our vulnerability to others. Showing how we really think, feel and behave without the need to mask ourselves in what we imagine the other person wants or can cope with. Being prepared to meet and listen to the other without being impeded by our own wants or needs.