James Vanstone, BACP, NCPS
James Vanstone is a counsellor with 21 years of experience.
About James
James Vanstone is a counsellor with 21 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief or relationship problems. James works in a practical, down-to-earth way so people can see small changes quickly.
He creates a calm space where clients can talk through difficult feelings without judgement. He uses clear tools and exercises that people can practise between sessions. Many clients leave with a straightforward plan to cope better day to day.
Background and approach
James draws on approaches that emphasise attachment, emotion and thought patterns. That means he pays attention to how relationships shape feelings, how emotions are expressed, and how thoughts influence behaviour. He adapts what he offers to match each person's situation and goals.
Across his work he has supported people with parenting strain, workplace compassion fatigue, anger and intimacy-related worries. He also regularly helps those managing adoption and foster care issues, attachment difficulties, autism and neurodiversity related concerns, and the effects of abuse or victimisation. James is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and holds NCPS.
He offers sessions from the United Kingdom and works with people in English, including international clients by online formats. If someone wants a straightforward, relational approach with practical tools, he can guide that process.
Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed
← Browse all counsellorsRegistration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 399496 | February 2027 |
| NCPS | NCS22-03987 | October 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything James lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Ways of working James names
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.
Approaches that work well online and in conversation
Attachment-based work focuses on how early and current relationships shape emotions and behaviour, helping people understand patterns in close relationships and reduce repeated hurts. Client-centred therapy prioritises the person's own pace and perspective, offering a listening, non-judgemental space where clients lead the topic and the counsellor follows. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at thought patterns and behaviour cycles and gives concrete exercises to test unhelpful thoughts and try different actions.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. James will talk with the person about their needs, goals and what feels most helpful, and then choose or combine methods in a collaborative way. This means therapy can change as progress is made and priorities shift.
Online sessions use video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to fit around busy lives and different comfort levels. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits shorter check-ins, and messaging lets people reflect in writing between meetings. These options make it easier to keep therapy regular and flexible alongside work, family and travel.
Frequently asked
What kinds of concerns can I bring to sessions?
James helps with stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, anger and career worries. He also supports people facing trauma, abuse, compassion fatigue and ADHD related challenges.
What is his general therapeutic style?
He uses a practical, client-centred style that blends attachment-based, emotionally-focused and cognitive approaches. Sessions focus on talking through feelings, learning coping tools and practising small behavioural changes.
How long has he been practising?
He has 21 years of experience working with a wide range of emotional and relational difficulties.
Where is he based and what credentials does he hold?
He works from the United Kingdom and is listed with BACP and NCPS as shown in his profile.
Can sessions be held in other languages or countries?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients for online work.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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