James Costigan, BACP

James Costigan is a counsellor with nine years' experience and registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). He aims to offer a calm, steady space where men can slow down, make sense of difficult feelings, and work towards clearer, more confident choices. He draws on his own corporate experience to understand workplace pressure and performance strain.

In sessions he focuses on building self-awareness and understanding how past experiences shape current behaviour. He helps people untangle anxiety, depression, stress, and addiction-related concerns, including problems with pornography. He also supports those coping with relationship strains, intimacy-related issues, and challenges around identity and self-esteem.

James uses practical, person-focused approaches so conversations stay down to earth. He listens without judgement and helps clients try small changes between sessions. He works at a pace that suits each individual and aims to increase clarity, compassion, and confidence over time.

Areas of additional focus include attachment and abandonment worries, communication and control problems, codependency, body image, and caregiver stress. He also accepts people who identify as LGBT and those exploring kink, BDSM and alternative sex cultures, offering a non-judgemental space to talk these matters through.

People often come for help with career crossroads, coping with life changes, or a general sense of emptiness. He frames work as collaborative coaching and therapy, helping clients move from struggle towards the life they want.

How his approaches work online and in practice

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre of sessions. The therapist listens closely, mirrors what is said, and helps people find their own answers. This approach is useful for improving self-understanding and building confidence.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts, feelings and behaviours and tests small changes. It often helps with anxiety, depression, stress and patterns that maintain unwanted habits. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase focus, which can be helpful for stress and impulse-related issues.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and then agree a collaborative plan. That plan can change as sessions progress, so clients can try different techniques and see what helps most.

The biography does not specify exact online session types, so confirm current options before booking. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow quicker check-ins between work or family commitments. It also makes it possible for people outside the therapist's immediate area to access his experience.