James Costigan, BACP

James Costigan is a BACP counsellor with nine years' experience. He offers a calm, non-judgemental space where men can slow down and begin to make sense of what feels overwhelming. He aims to help people build self-awareness and grow more confidence in everyday life.

His approach begins with listening and helping people name their feelings. Sessions move at a pace set by the client, with the therapist alongside as they try out different ways of responding. Practical conversation and reflective listening are used to help people face stress, anxiety and low mood.

James draws on cognitive behavioural ideas to spot unhelpful thinking patterns. He also uses client-centred work to follow what matters most to each person. Mindfulness techniques are offered to help with remaining calm and focused in stressful moments.

Many people seek support for relationship worries, addictions including drug and alcohol issues, intimacy-related concerns and self-esteem problems. He also addresses career pressure, coping with life changes, ADHD and issues around attachment and abandonment.

He has additional experience supporting those navigating body image, codependency, communication and commitment issues, plus people involved in kink and alternative sex culture who want non-judgemental help. Sessions are offered in English and James accepts international clients. To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

How these approaches shape online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and following what the person finds most important. It is about building trust, exploring feelings, and supporting personal choices, which can help with low mood and relationship worries.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It offers practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thinking and try new behaviours, which is useful for anxiety, stress and some addictive behaviours.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase focus. These techniques can be helpful when stress or strong emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about goals and preferences and together decide which methods to try. This is a collaborative process that can change as therapy progresses.

Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by removing travel time or allowing shorter check-ins during a break. They also suit people who prefer not to use video every time or who find it easier to work from different locations. Because specific session formats are not listed in the biography, please confirm the available options before booking.