Natalie James

Whether you're a trainee finding your feet or a seasoned practitioner with years of experience, supervision is somewhere you can bring the successes, the struggles and everything in between.

My aim is to be a safe pair of hands for you. Someone who will celebrate what's going well, give you time and space to explore what's proving difficult, offer a different perspective and gently challenge you when it might be helpful.

I won't sit back and leave you to figure everything out on your own. I'll happily roll my sleeves up and get stuck in alongside you, whether you're exploring a tricky client situation, thinking through an ethical dilemma or reflecting on how the work is affecting you.

You don't need to work in the same therapeutic modality as me. I've supervised practitioners from a range of backgrounds, and I'm interested in understanding how you work rather than expecting you to work in the same way I do.

I also believe supervision is a two-way relationship. I've been a therapist since 2011, and I'm still learning. There are always new perspectives to consider, and I learn plenty from the people I work with too.

Above all, supervision is a place where you can be yourself and speak honestly about stuff. You don't need to have all the answers, and it's OK to bring the things you're unsure about as well as the things you're proud of.

I offer clinical supervision to trainee and qualified counsellors and psychotherapists, with appointments available in person in Manchester or online.

If you're coming in person, you'll find a cosy, private garden therapy room in Levenshulme, South Manchester. Supervision appointments are also available at The Didsbury Counselling and Therapy Centre in West Didsbury.

Supervision sessions are available for 50, 60 or 90 minutes, depending on your needs and training or professional requirements.

My core training is in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, and I hold a Level 7 postgraduate diploma and a Level 6 Diploma in Clinical Supervision.

I'm also a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, working with couples as well as individuals. I've continued developing my skills through further training, including Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP).

Whether you're looking for supervision as part of your training, ongoing support for your client work or someone with experience in couples therapy, you're welcome to get in touch.

If you'd like to find out more, we can arrange a brief introductory telephone call to talk about what you're looking for and whether we might work well together. Email or text is the best way to contact me.

Your first supervision session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and talk about what you're looking for from supervision.

We can explore your experience, the clients you're working with and what you find helpful (or less helpful!) in supervision. There'll also be time to talk about any particular areas where you'd welcome support or would like to develop your confidence.

We'll go through the practical arrangements, including our supervision agreement, confidentiality and any requirements connected to your training or professional membership.

You don't need to arrive with everything worked out. It's also an opportunity for you to get a feel for working with me, ask questions and see whether we're a good fit.

 Ever feel like you’re going round in circles? Perhaps the same problems keep cropping up, relationships feel difficult, or you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, grief or things that happened years ago.

Maybe life looks OK on the outside, but something doesn’t feel right on the inside.

You might know exactly what you’d like help with, or not have a clue where to start. Both are OK with me.

You don’t have to find the right words, have all the answers or pretend everything’s fine. Turn up as you are, without worrying about saying the wrong thing.

I’m friendly, down-to-earth, slightly eccentric (!) and endlessly curious about people: what makes us tick and why we do the things we do. I’ve been a therapist for 15 years, so I’ve got oodles of experience under my belt. But I’m still learning.

I won’t sit there nodding for 50 minutes while you do all the work! I’ll listen, ask questions, share what I’m noticing and sometimes challenge you. I’ll happily roll my sleeves up and get stuck in alongside you.

Therapy can involve difficult conversations, but there’s room for laughter too. I’m comfortable with both, and I do both well.

I work with individuals and couples. As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, I help couples improve communication and understand recurring arguments.

I also work with neurodivergent clients, including autistic and ADHD people. Also LGBTQI+ clients, including trans and non-binary people. Your identity or neurodivergence might be part of what you want to explore, or completely unrelated.

We might explore how your past influences today, focus on what’s happening now, or both. There may be practical tools you can use outside sessions too.

The relationship between us matters. We can take time to explore whatever brings you here.

I haven’t got a magic wand (I’ve looked!), but I can help you untangle things, make sense of what’s going on and consider what you might want to do differently. 

You can come for individual counselling or psychotherapy, or attend couples therapy with your partner. Appointments are available in person or online.

If you're coming in person, you'll find a cosy, private garden therapy room in Levenshulme, South Manchester. Appointments are also available at The Didsbury Counselling and Therapy Centre in West Didsbury.

Individual sessions are £60 for 50 minutes, while couples sessions are £80 for 60 minutes.

If you're coming for couples therapy, you might want to improve communication, understand recurring patterns, work through a particular difficulty or strengthen your relationship. As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, I can help you explore what's happening between you and find different ways of relating to each other.

If you'd like to find out more about me and how I work, you're welcome to visit my website at www.counsellinginmanchester.org.

If you're thinking about starting therapy, you're welcome to get in touch by email or text. We can arrange a free, brief telephone call of around 10–15 minutes to talk about what you're looking for, how I work and whether we might be a good fit. There's no obligation to book afterwards.

Some people come for a handful of sessions, while others prefer longer-term therapy. We can discuss what might suit you and review how things are going as we work together.

If you're unemployed or on a low income, there are a limited number of lower-cost appointments available.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other a little and talk about what has brought you to therapy.

You don't have to tell me everything in that first appointment. There'll be time to talk about what's happening in your life, what you're hoping to get from therapy and anything you're unsure about.

I'll ask you some questions to help me understand your circumstances, and we'll go through the practical arrangements, including confidentiality and how we'll work together.

You'll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions too. It's also a chance for you to get a feel for working with me and whether I'm someone you'd feel comfortable talking to.