James Baldwin

I work face to face both in my clinic as well as making home visits where appropriate and via advanced planning and preparation. I am usually available Monday to Saturday days and evenings. 

I am a qualified integrative Counsellor/Therapist and Nurse registered with MBACP, NMC. I provide therapy online, in person both at my practice and am also able to do home visits (where needed and arranged).

I have over 25 years of working psychotherapeutically in psychological medicine. I initially qualified as in Integrative counsellor/Therapist in 2008. This integrative approach merges CBT, Psychodynamic and Humanistic therapies. Since my initial training, I have been fortunate enough to be able to study and qualify as a Hypnotherapist and EMDR practitioner. I have also had extensive training (two years) in Cognitive Analytic therapy (CAT) and a further two years in Family, couple and systemic therapy.

I have extensive experience of working with children, adults, couples and families in both the NHS and private sector.

I am a compassionate, grounded and empathic practitioner and enjoy working with all type of people and presentations with various levels of distress and mental health difficulties with all levels of severities.

I have experience of working with Depression, Anxiety, Self Esteem issues, Trauma, Loss and Grief (including pet bereavement which is a special interest of mine), Eating Disorders, Addictions, Self-harming behaviours, Worry and Stress, Family and couple difficulties as well as working with clients of the LGBTQIA community and the difficulties that this may cause, whether it be due to self-identity or difficulties or conflict that this can cause within your family of origin and friends.

I will be sure to provide a safe, non-judgemental and supportive space for us to discuss your difficulties, and together we explore treatment plans that will help you feel able to move towards as more positive position on your life.

I know making the first step can be really scary, so I would like to take this opportunity to commend you doing this. I wish you the best for your future movements regardless of if you contact me or not, best wishes James 

I know that finding a therapist that "fits" can be difficult and I like to think of the first session as a two way assessment, both for me to assess and plan a treatment that i think will work for you and your presenting concerns and difficulties as well as for you to assess me and find out if you feel you comfortable enough to work with me.  Research has constantly shown that certain models of therapy have (at times) better treatment outcomes, however the "therapeutic relationship" has constantly been proven to improve this.   

I am happy for us to plan an initial call for 10-15 mins prior to our first session if this can make the first session feel like it will be easier. 

There at times will be some initial paper work to fill in (dependent of the model of therapy we think maybe useful), but this can be discussed and delayed if this feels overwhelming initially. I very much agree and at all times attempt to always remember and practice one of the key principles of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). "Push where it moves" Tony Ryle 2001. This means always trying to move in a position that you will feel helpful, rather than doing things that can make things more difficult.