I am currently fully committed to existing clients and have no spare availability at this time.
Any updates to availability will be posted in the Fees & Appointments page.
How I work as a therapist
My core approach draws from psychoanalytic theory and Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. This way of working is exploratory and uses the human relationship with a therapist to gain a deep understanding of someone’s emotional and psychological process.
Whilst therapy is often problem focused, the main aim is to help you to more fully understand yourself, the protective mechanisms that formed through your early life experience, and how past experience may be influencing the here and now, maintaining anxiety and depression. Working at such depth is rarely an easy process, but can result in change that leads to healthier psychological and interpersonal functioning.
I also integrate techniques from the schools of Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where these might be helpful in resolving specific problems, or indicated for symptom management in The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for evidenced based psychological therapy.
Problems that I can help with
Social anxiety
Panic attacks
Generalised Anxiety (GAD)
Health anxiety
Perfectionism
Obsession & Compulsion (OCD)
Depression or low mood
Difficulties in relationships
Problems with confidence and esteem
Issues related to self-identity / sexuality
Problems related to trauma
Problems related to loss
Ethical practice
My private practice is indemnity insured and delivered in line with the BACP ethical framework and code of conduct. I attend regular clinical supervision with a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist and accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist. I also attend a monthly supervision group using a model of attachment based dynamic psychotherapy.
Suitability
I offer a free, informal initial consultation following any referral. This is so that we can discuss your needs before you commit to any fee payable sessions. If I am unlikely to be able to help, I will aways attempt to signpost you to a different therapist or service.
Currently, I do not offer couples therapy, family intervention or children and adolescent services, or where risk cannot be safely managed remotely.
Practicalities
I deliver all formal sessions through a professional live video platform (Zoom) from a private home office, meaning that my clients are not restricted by location in the UK.
Video therapy can be a very beneficial and convenient way to access help but there are differences from physical face to face meetings. These include adaptations to technique, as well as practical considerations such as your opportunity for privacy, access to a suitable video enabled device and stable internet connection.
James Spiers 