James Schanda, BACP

James Schanda meets people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, low mood, anxiety or trouble in their closest relationships. He writes simply and listens carefully so parents and busy adults can get straight to what matters. James aims to make the first step feel manageable and supportive.

He uses a person-centred style to help people talk through what matters most to them. That means sessions focus on the client's experience, pace and priorities rather than a fixed agenda. James also draws on cognitive behavioural techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and build practical coping steps.

In longer work he brings in psychodynamic ideas to understand patterns that repeat across relationships. Mindfulness exercises are offered for stress and anxiety to help with grounding in everyday moments. He adapts the mix to fit each person's needs and goals rather than applying a single method.

James holds BACP, which is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and he has three years' experience. He works with adults on issues such as self-esteem, life purpose, trauma, workplace difficulties and body image. Sessions are conversational and straightforward, with a focus on practical changes that fit a client's life.

To begin, James asks people to reflect on what they want to change and what would feel different after therapy. He then helps set short-term goals and simple steps to try between sessions. The approach is calm, direct and aimed at helping people feel less stuck.

How James uses talking therapies online

Client-centred therapy focuses on the person's experience and what they want to change. Online sessions using this approach are largely conversational and aim to create space to speak and be heard, which suits issues like stress, relationships and self-esteem.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. In online work this can mean learning simple exercises, trying short experiments between sessions and tracking changes with practical homework to reduce anxiety or low mood.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. James will discuss goals and preferences in early sessions and adjust methods as needed so therapy fits the client's life and aims. He works with people to set clear, realistic steps and reviews progress together.

Online formats offer different practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that helps. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier on busy days. Live chat and text-based messaging suit brief check-ins, notes between sessions or people who prefer typing to speaking. These options are chosen to make therapy more flexible and to fit into work, family and daily routines.