James Saunders, BACP, NCPS

James Saunders is a UK-based psychotherapeutic counsellor, BACP Registered and NCPS Accredited, who offers online therapy to adults and young adults aged 18 and over. He brings three years of professional practice together with lived experience of anxiety, depression and addiction to create an approach that is practical, empathic and relatable.

Before training as a counsellor James worked in high-pressure roles within e-commerce for global fashion and sports brands. That period of intense work contributed to his own struggles with stress, burnout and substance misuse and ultimately led to a personal journey of recovery and retraining. He credits 12-step recovery programs with helping him find stability, and spiritual psychotherapy and eastern meditation practices with bringing perspective and calm. He blends those lived insights with formal counselling skills to support others facing similar challenges.

James trained to a Level 4 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling - a recognised vocational qualification - and is NCPS Accredited and BACP Registered. BACP Registered indicates registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and NCPS Accredited denotes accreditation from the NCPS professional body. His voluntary work has included supporting people at the Herefordshire branch of Mind and providing text-based crisis support for Shout 85258, and he has experience as a sponsor in 12-step recovery groups. He also works as an online therapist .

James primarily uses a person-centered approach while drawing on Gestalt, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques when appropriate. He aims to offer a non-judgmental, personal space where clients can explore stress, anxiety, addiction, relationships, grief, self-esteem and life changes. Sessions are offered flexibly by video and telephone to people across the UK, with support tailored to each individual’s needs.

How his therapeutic approaches work in online sessions

Client-centered therapy is grounded in empathy and active listening, giving the person space to explore feelings and make sense of their experience. It is well suited to issues such as low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and life transitions where a supportive, non-directive relationship helps clients find their own solutions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact and offers practical techniques to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress-related problems. It can be useful when someone wants structured tools to change unhelpful thinking patterns and coping habits.

Psychodynamic therapy explores how past relationships and hidden patterns influence current difficulties, helping people understand recurring themes such as attachment, abandonment or unresolved grief. This approach can be helpful for clients wanting deeper insight into long-standing emotional patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. James will work with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, combining elements from these approaches where helpful so therapy feels tailored rather than prescribed.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: video calls enable face-to-face conversation from home, phone sessions provide a more private option, and live chat or text-based messaging suits people who prefer writing or need brief, accessible contact. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life while keeping the focus on consistent, professional support from registered professionals and therapists.