James Costigan , BACP

James Costigan is a genuine, caring, and insightful therapist who offers a supportive space where men can slow down, reflect, and work through the obstacles that stand between them and a calmer, more confident life. He specialises in working with men because he recognises how many pressures are carried in silence, and he focuses on helping clients build greater self-awareness, name and make sense of their emotions, and develop steadier ways of meeting everyday challenges.

Choosing therapy can feel like a big step, and James aims to make that step manageable by working at a pace that feels right for each person. He collaborates with clients to bring clarity, compassion, and practical skills to difficult situations so they can respond to dilemmas with more confidence and calm.

Many men come to James with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, and addiction struggles including problematic porn use, or with a general sense of feeling lost. He also supports men facing professional pressures, performance expectations, and personal development goals, drawing on his own corporate experience to relate to workplace stresses and career concerns. He is a member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which indicates affiliation with a recognised professional body.

Therapeutic approaches and online support for men

Client-Centered Therapy is offered as a gentle, collaborative approach that focuses on the client's own experience and strengths. In practice this means the therapist listens carefully, reflects what is heard, and helps the client explore values, feelings, and goals - an approach that can be especially helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and navigating life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a practical, problem-focused method that looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is often used to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, manage stress, and address patterns that contribute to addictive behaviours or unhelpful reactions.

Mindfulness Therapy introduces simple attention and awareness practices to help people relate differently to difficult thoughts and urges. These techniques can support emotional regulation, reduce reactivity, and complement work on anxiety, stress, and compulsive behaviours.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and James works collaboratively with each client to identify what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they adapt methods over time so the work remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family, and geographic constraints, and allow continuity of care when in-person meetings are not possible. Licensed professionals can use these formats to deliver the same thoughtful, focused support as face-to-face sessions while accommodating different communication styles and schedules.