Michael James Email & Phone Number

I'm an Integrative Psychotherapist and registered as a Full Practicing Member with the BACP with over 25 years experience in various positions, both as a private practitioner with adult clients and working directly with looked after children in the Residential Care sector. Alongside my degree in Psychotherapeutic Studies I have a Post Grad Diploma and MA with Distinction(s) in Integrative Psychotherapy.I have extensive experience as a Trainer for teams in Trauma informed and Attachment based Therapeutic support for those working with young people in Care. I always emphasise the value of 'self-care' for those undertaking all therapeutic work. The essence of my direct Psychotherapeutic practice, for individuals and groups, is 'person-centred' in that I am always led by the client's needs and 'issues' as presented to me. In this way 'therapy' is always grounded in the trans-formative power of trusting and collaborative relationships. I am also an Accredited Teacher of Mindfulness with over 30 years experience of various forms of Meditation. I invite clients to use intentional awareness to frame issues of identity and purpose and to facilitate meaningful positive change in their lives - towards a 'solution focus'.My practice is 'trauma Informed' in that our presenting problems are often linked to the underlying effects of prior/present trauma. Such trauma can be healed through 'present-centred' mind/body awareness that may incorporate a mindful practice coupled with a reflective dialogue enabling us to reframe meaning and direction to our livesThe Mindfulness element of my practice is seen 'merely' as 'intentional awareness' which experience shows can be applied by degrees from moment-to-moment as an enabling agent to help us to see our patterns of 'stuckness' - at the heart of many problems - and to move beyond them. Intentional awareness harnesses the simplicity of our own present awareness to see patterns of thoughts and behaviour and to help us to embrace a 'solution' that we can envision and move towards. My own experience has shown that our suffering through a myriad of life problems can act as a 'prompt' for us to examine issues of 'identity' and 'purpose'. These can be of a Trans-personal nature and can also be transformed through our own awakening - through the gateway of a present-centred intentional awareness.

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  University Of Central Lancashire

  Ba(Hons) 1St Class - Counselling And Psychotherapeutic Studies