Take care of your needs, so you can better provide for those that matter.

ABOUT ME

Most people I work with don’t look like they’re struggling from the outside.

They’re functioning, capable, and often doing what’s expected of them, but inside they may feel anxious, disconnected, lonely, or unsure of themselves. Some feel stuck in patterns they don’t fully understand, particularly in relationships. Others feel overwhelmed by expectations, self-doubt, or the pressure to keep going without really knowing why.

I’m an accredited coach and psychotherapist in training, currently completing a Master’s degree in Pluralistic Counselling. I’m a member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), and I volunteer in two community counselling centres in Dublin, providing low-cost counselling to adults and young people.

Before training as a therapist, I spent over 16 years living and working internationally. That experience deeply shaped how I understand identity, belonging, and what it means to feel “out of place” even when life looks fine on the surface. It also informs my work with adolescents and adults who feel anxious, socially uncomfortable, or unsure of where they fit in the world.

HOW I WORK

I don’t believe there’s a single reason people struggle, or a single right way to help.

People experience distress for many different reasons: relationships, life transitions, anxiety, loneliness, loss of confidence, or simply feeling disconnected from themselves. My role isn’t to label or “fix” you, but to help you make sense of what’s happening and find a way forward that feels right for you.

I work collaboratively, at your pace. Some people arrive ready to make changes; others need time to feel safe, understood, and clearer about what they want. Both are completely valid.

Rather than focusing only on what’s wrong, I pay close attention to what’s already there in terms of your strengths, values, resilience, and capacity to grow. I’m particularly interested in helping people move towards the life they want, rather than spending all their energy trying to get away from what feels difficult.

Relationships are central to wellbeing, and when we don’t feel heard, understood, or connected, distress often follows. Creating a space where you can speak openly, without editing yourself or worrying about being judged is at the heart of my work.

Why Choose Me?

Whatever situation you are in, I promise to trigger a perspective shift. This will get you unstuck, so you can move forward and make the changes you want. 

Through listening and effective communication, I build genuine connections and trust with clients. If you are open and honest with your fears, beliefs and worries, change will be easier to navigate.

Working with me is a collaborative process. You don’t need to have the “right words” or know exactly what you want from therapy, we figure that out together.

While it’s easy to fixate on problems at hand we focus on reframing them, so they are both manageable and actionable. Balance is key to sustainable change.

The people I work with tell me they feel more grounded, clearer about themselves, and more confident in navigating their problems and difficult emotions.

The strategies I use are based on research and I do my best to stay up to date and informed. While there is no one size fits all solution to unique situations, I will tailor approaches to suit your needs. 

MY mission

My mission is to help people feel less alone with their struggles and more confident in who they are and how they relate to others.
I support people experiencing anxiety, relationship difficulties, and self-doubt to make sense of their inner world, strengthen their sense of belonging, and move toward a life guided by meaning and values.

I aim to offer a space where people feel heard, accepted, and supported. A place where they can make sense of what they’re carrying and find their own way forward, at their own pace.

Being an accredited practitioner of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and a member of the International Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists means my counseling and coaching is ethical, professional and under regular supervision.

 

Tue Trieu (Web Developer / Project Manager)

“A good coach is different from a good teacher. A good teacher answers your questions. A good coach, on the other hand, guides you towards your own answers. James doesn’t have all the answers but what he does have are things far more important – patience and compassion. He’s a gifted listener, able to quickly pinpoint individual needs and goals. He’s a master at asking pertinent questions – questions that you should be asking yourself but could never find the right words. Above all, he is positive and supportive, giving encouragement throughout the discovery process. He might not have the answers to your questions, but he can and will guide you towards the path to answering your own. In that sense, James is a brilliant coach and I highly recommend him.”

Calle Andersson (Co Founder & COO at Cturtle)

“I had a great experience overall being coached by James. He opened me up to new concepts of self-reflection and, more importantly, how to put these strategies into practice in my daily life and work. It was very interesting to reflect on the different Character Strengths to determine which concepts are the most important and true to me and how they define me as a person. It allowed me to think more objectively about myself, how I make decisions, and how all of it impacts my daily life and social situations. I highly encourage anyone reading this to work with James as your coach! It was a very rewarding experience that opened my eyes to many new aspects of both myself and the world around me. Thanks a lot for your hard work and passion for coaching and guiding other humans; I’m sure you will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of your coachees.”

Jane Le (Founder of RMIT Vietnam Mind Club)

“Thank you for being my mentor for 3 months through the Career Mentoring program. Before meeting you, I was still hesitant about taking the first step in working on an interview. But thanks to your advice, I became more confident to do my best, not only to ace my interview but also to find out my strengths which I can work on for the future. Our discussions helped me learnt a lot and expand my knowledge and perspectives. And you are always very patient and supportive as a mentor, and I was really grateful to receive your help.”

Nguyen Pham (Junior Technical Support Engineer)

“I have had the pleasure of knowing James for the past five months, and I have been consistently impressed with his dedication. James is an excellent mentor being able to provide both practical advice and emotional support. He has a deep understanding of the challenges that young professionals face, and he is always willing to offer guidance and encouragement. James is also a great listener, and he is always willing to take the time to understand my individual needs and goals”

Eric Asato (Career Consulting Manager)

“I highly recommend James as a proactive life-long learner and empathetic listener. James has volunteered as a Career Mentor since 2021, sharing his expertise in Positive Psychology, Education, and Career Development Learning in workshops, panels, career consultations, and mentoring over 20 university students. We ran Thriving Online Workshops to support colleagues’ wellbeing during Covid19.”

Mary perez (new initiatives program manager)

I got to experience James’ coaching first-hand and as it was my first experience I quickly felt comfortable, guided, and paid attention to. James’ sessions varied with different activities, reflection and discussion points. There were no feelings of judgment rather opportunities to relate to each other and go deeper into the significance of what we discovered through the exercises and exchanges in the sessions. James helped me to discover and align values I had and was a great sounding board for the changes and goals I wanted to make, helping me to be more mindful and accountable with my actions.

I have facilitated wellbeing training and workshops in Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia, both face to face and virtually.

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