About me
I’m an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, and founder of Heart Mind Body. I work with adults in Oxfordshire and online, offering space to explore difficult experiences, understand recurring patterns and develop a clearer sense of what they need.
You may be considering therapy because something has become difficult to manage. Or perhaps you have spent years coping, supporting others or trying to make sense of yourself, and now want space for your own experience.
I aim to meet you with warmth, curiosity and respect. You don’t need to present a particular version of yourself or have everything worked out before we begin.
What matters to me as a therapist
I am interested in how we become who we are: how relationships, experiences and the expectations around us shape the ways we think, feel and relate.
Many ways of coping develop for understandable reasons. Staying in control, putting others first, withdrawing or being hard on yourself may once have helped you manage difficult circumstances. Over time, these responses can become restrictive or leave you disconnected from your own needs.
I believe therapy can help us understand these patterns with compassion while creating opportunities for change. My role is to support that exploration through careful listening, questions and thoughtful challenge, with room for you to disagree, express uncertainty and tell me how you experience our work.
Compassion, awareness and emotional life
Alongside my clinical training, I have over ten years’ experience in psychoeducation, mindfulness and compassion-based work. This has included delivering Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) courses and working with therapists, educators and community groups.
This background informs my interest in how we respond to distress, particularly when our first response is self-criticism, shame or the feeling that we should be coping better.
For me, compassion involves taking difficulties seriously, understanding their context and finding the courage to respond with care. In therapy, this can mean making room for painful feelings, recognising limits, expressing needs or approaching something you have been avoiding.
Mindfulness and reflective practices are available where helpful, and we would discuss together whether they suit you.
My background and training
My therapeutic training has included study at the University of Warwick and Newman University. My qualifications include:
MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology.
I am a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and BACP-registered counsellor. My practice is supported by regular clinical supervision, ongoing professional development and the ethical standards of my professional bodies.
My integrative training brings together psychodynamic, Gestalt, person-centred and cognitive behavioural perspectives. This gives me different ways of understanding your experience and allows us to shape therapy around your needs.
The people I work with
I support adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship difficulties and the effects of difficult past experiences.
I have a particular interest in working with people who feel responsible for others but struggle to recognise their own needs; who find closeness, trust or boundaries difficult; or who feel emotionally numb despite understanding their experiences intellectually.
I also work with autistic adults and adults with ADHD. I am interested in each person’s experience of relationships, identity, overwhelm and belonging, including the impact of trying to meet expectations that may not fit their needs.
You may recognise yourself in some of these experiences, or your reasons for seeking therapy may be different. We can discuss what you are looking for and whether my approach feels suitable.
Finding the right therapist for you
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision. Qualifications matter, and so does feeling able to speak, ask questions and be yourself.
I offer a free 20-minute online consultation so you can share a little about what brings you, ask about my approach and get a sense of talking with me. There is no obligation to continue.
You are also welcome to email jim@heart-mind-body.co.uk. A short message is enough to begin.
