About
James is a compassionate and dedicated therapist who works specifically with OCD and related disorders in a collaborative and supportive fashion. He recognises that OCD is both one of the most prominent and distressing disorders to face and works with patients who are particularly challenged by it. Whilst being a CBT therapist, he follows a multidisciplinary approach and uses research supported techniques that have been proven to be effective in the treatment of OCD.
OCD is a chronic condition, so he works collaboratively, both with his team and clients, to equip patients with the awareness and skills necessary to become self-therapists, taking control of their lives. One-to-one CBT therapy is offered across the course of a working week as well as daily group sessions which, whilst not directly targeting OCD, have been tailored to support with the challenges a patient may face, and contribute to the distress they experience.
He prides himself fon his approachability and willingness to adapt in support of a patient’s needs, incorporating requests for groups and activities where therapeutically necessary.
James has received training in both CBT and third wave approaches such ACT and functional analytic psychotherapy, and has found that this versatility allows him to be both adaptive and effective in supporting a patient’s needs. He prefers to look at problems from a functional perspective rather than labelling them as simply ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
James spent more than 12 years working as a primary school teacher in some of the most economically deprived areas of London before retraining to become a psychotherapist, and feels the skills he has accrued in dealing with a range of people and managing teams, are easily transferable and beneficial to his therapeutic role. He believes that a range of experiences in life can help shape a person’s understanding of the variety of needs that individuals from different backgrounds can present. He believes in cultural sensitivity and awareness and loves to introduce humour into sessions wherever possible and functional.
Position at Priory
James is a highly specialist CBT therapist working in OCD. He is a member of both the BABCP and BACP and is working towards accreditation.
He has been with the OCD department since January 2023.