Services

More Information about Counselling Methods

CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Do you have negative thoughts that around and around in your head? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy deals with the thoughts and the self-talk & our expectations that underlie our behaviour. You can just change the behaviour if you want, and in some cases that is the best course of action and sometimes that works; but it is sometimes far more effective to change the thoughts that lie behind our unwanted behaviours.
A bit like – it is far better to treat the disease than just treating the symptoms. The mind is a powerful thing, and research shows that what we think and believe can actually affect our health – both negatively or positively; like in a clinical study where some are given a placebo and others the medication, and yet often those given the placebo get better.
CBT is a very effective therapy in dealing with anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, depression, anger management and much more. It does work for everyone, but it does work. In simple terms it is about replacing negative thoughts with more realistic positive thoughts.

ACT – Acceptance & Commitment Theory

Acceptance and Commitment Theory is about accepting what is out of your personal control and commits actions that improves and enriches your life.
The objective of ACT is not elimination of difficult feelings; rather, it is to be present with what life brings and to "move toward valued behaviour". Acceptance and commitment therapy invites people to open up to unpleasant feelings, learn not to overreact to them, and not avoid situations where they are invoked. Its therapeutic effect aims to be a positive spiral where a greater understanding of one's emotions leads to a better understanding of the truth. In ACT, 'truth' is measured through the concept of 'workability', or what works to take another step toward what matters (e.g. values, meaning). (Quoted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
This theory is widely used by mental health specialists with positive results. CBT is sometimes used in conjunction with ACT, again with positive results.

Christian & Biblical Based Counselling

James also offers Christian & Biblically based counselling for clients who specifically ask for it. James has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry, worked as a youth pastor in two churches and was also a school chaplain for six years and a school counsellor/mentor at a Christian school. He has spent many years in various Christian ministries including pastoral care, counselling, preaching & teaching. He is also the author of ten books, some on Christian living.
His Christian counselling is based upon traditional evangelical theology. He believes that everyone is made in the image of God and thus has intrinsic value and worth and that the Bible has much to teach people about God and living a full life with hope and healing. Again, this kind of counselling is only for clients who specifically ask for it.

Counselling services offered:

Although James' primary counselling focus is on relationship counselling,
there are other areas of counselling that he is trained and experienced in...

Youth(18+) Counselling

James is a qualified youth worker and has had extensive experience supporting young people and young adults in crises, with complex and/or traumatic histories, including homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness, youth with drug and alcohol problems, self-harming and suicidal thoughts & behaviours, and youth who have been abused. James provides an environment that is both friendly, safe, and supportive to assist young adults to explore their issues and find ways to move forward on the road to recovery.

Relationship Counselling

Do you want to build stronger and healthier relationships in your life? James can help you find the tools and relationship skills you need to build stronger, healthier, and more intimate relationships with those around you who are important to you. Whether you want a better relationship with your family, your partner or your friends, James can help you build on your skills and strengths to achieve this.

Pre-marital Counselling

Are you engaged? Almost ready to tie the knot? As you prepare to do that, part of your preparation should include pre-marital counselling. Too many couples get married without this and down the road of marital bliss discover issues that threaten their marriage, issues that should have been explored first; like how many children are you going to have, if any? Are you going to buy a house or rent? And where? Who does what in this marriage? Are all the chores going to be shared? What about money? These are just a few of the issues that have broken up many a marriage. Planning and preparation make for a great and memorable wedding but, pre-marital counselling makes for a great and long-lasting marriage.

Marriage Counselling

It is never too late or too early to get marriage counselling, whether you simply want to make your marriage great, or need help solving some issues that have led to a distance between you and your partner, or if there are more serious issues between the two of you that may lead to divorce, reach out now for a helping hand and see if you can make your marriage great again.

Grief & Loss Counselling

Grief is not exclusive to the loss of a loved one or friend, but can include the loss of many things, like the loss of a beloved pet, a career, or the loss of a home, or the loss of a limb, loss of eyesight and the list goes on. It is also true that each of us grieves in different ways and copes in different ways, and that’s actually ok. We have all experienced grief of some kind, and we all know that sometimes we need help, and I don’t mean to “just get over it” as some say, but to learn to cope better and not let our grief cripple us in life. James can assist you in doing just that.

Anger Management & Conflict Resolution

Who hasn’t been in conflict with their partner, a friend or family member? We can all relate to that. Anger is an emotion that is neither right nor wrong – it is how we deal or handle our anger that matters. Are you often in conflict with people around you? Do you have some anger issues? Would you like to be better at handling your anger and conflicts? If the answer is yes, James can help you to find the tools you need to better control your anger and how to deal with conflicts before they escalate to a shouting match, or worse get physical. James has run several anger management short courses over the years and helped many people better manage their anger and conflicts and is currently writing a book on anger management and conflict resolution. He can help.

Life Skills & Mentoring

Having a mentor does not reflect negatively on who you are. Many people today have a mentor, in fact many people I know have multiple mentors. A mentor is someone with life wisdom, who can encourage us, and who knows how to ask the hard questions that challenge us towards positive change and growth. James has successfully mentored many young people, young adults, and adults over the last 30-years. He knows how to encourage and build a person up, to ask the right questions to get people thinking outside the box, and how to help people discover their strengths, grow those strengths, and learn new life skills to help them be more successful in their life.

Abuse Counselling

Have you been abused sometime in your life, and you can’t stop thinking about it? Were you sexually abused or date-raped? Were you bullied at school or at home while growing up, and it still influences your life? If this is you then you have taken the second step forward by seeking counselling.

James not only has training in counselling abuse victims, including sexual abuse, he has years of hands-on experience in supporting and counselling abuse victims – both young people and older. His experience also includes 8-years working alongside Families SA with abused young people under the guardianship of the minister (GOM). James is very understanding of the issues surrounding abuse and offers a non-judgemental and empathetic safe space for abuse victims to come to get help, to become survivors rather than victims and to find hope. And there is hope. Let James help you find it.

Suicide & Self-Harm Recovery & Prevention

These days there are too many people of all ages who self-harm and contemplate or attempt suicide; and sadly, there are too many who do not understand those who do these things. James is not one of them. He understands the desires to self-harm and suicidal thoughts better than most being that he is a survivor himself, and he has walked side-by-side with his wife through her postnatal depression and suicidal thoughts onto to recovery. He has also counselled and walked with many others through their dark days onto recovery and helped them find hope.

He can help you towards recovery and hope – and there is hope if you want it.
You are worth that.
Call him now. 040 909 4495